site.btaSocialist Coalition Urges Renewal of Dialogue Between Employers and Trade Unions on 2026 Budget

BSP - United Left is concerned about the lack of dialogue between trade unions and employers and believes that employers should return to the negotiating table, as this is the most important law in the country, the parliamentary group's Floor Leader Dragomir Stoynev told journalists on Thursday in Parliament regarding the draft state budget for 2026.

He said the coalition’s proposals aim to restore solidarity and fairness in the tax and social security system. Stoynev noted that "with the BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party) in Government, it is normal that, apart from the world of big capital, there should also be room for workers and employees whose rights have been taken away."

Stoynev added that social security contributions are not a tax but a right of workers, and a 2% increase in contributions would not harm businesses or employees but would strengthen workers’ rights.

Raising the maximum insurable income is also important, Stoynev highlighted, as higher earners currently contribute proportionally less. He added that further increases would motivate people to work for higher incomes.

He also expressed support for the rise in the dividend tax, saying he understood employers’ discontent with the measure but pointed out that Bulgaria still has the lowest tax and social security rates in the EU.

"After the budget is adopted, BSP will initiate discussions to eliminate the flat tax and move towards a progressive tax system," Stoynev said.

The meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) of the Cabinet, employers and unions was called off on Wednesday after employers' organizations refused to attend it.