site.btaInternational Workers' Day Marked with March, Message for Fair Pay, Safety at Work

International Workers' Day was marked in Bulgaria on Friday with a march and messages for fair pay and safety at work. 

International Workers' Day observes the historical struggles of workers and the labour movement on May 1. The day has been observed since 1890 by a resolution passed at the Paris Conference of the Second International in 1899. In Bulgaria, it has been observed since 1890, becoming an official holiday in 1939 and celebrated annually since 1945.

On the occasion, President Iliana Iotova said in a Facebook post: “We celebrate rights fought for over generations. But today, the right to decent work and fair income, justice, and social security are being put to the test - not only in Bulgaria, but globally as well. It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, in a European Bulgaria, the category of the ‘working poor’ still exists; their high number is shameful. Bold and competent politicians are needed, ones who not only speak, but act, to ensure that people of honest labour, people with ability, ambition, and talent, are not suffocated by poverty and crushed self-esteem. On the contrary, their creative power should be encouraged. And that power is in the DNA of the Bulgarian people.” 

Caretaker Labour Minister Hasan Ademov said in an interview on Nova TVA that the challenge for the next government is to develop a comprehensive long-term programme for income policy, which should be discussed with social partners. Social benefits must be preserved, Hasan Ademov stressed. According to him, careful consideration is needed regarding support for sectors where incomes are lagging behind. There is no measure that can completely stop inflation, as it is a consequence of what is happening in the economy and the surrounding environment, the Minister noted.

Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook: "Happy May Day to all of you who, with talent and dedication, build and protect our homeland." He called for honouring the labour of others as "it is part of our dignity as human beings." "Gratitude to the generations who built today’s Bulgaria! To the unyielding people here and around the world to whom we owe today’s welfare state," Radev added. 

While leading a procession on International Workers’ Day in Sofia, Podkrepa Labour Confederation President Dimitar Manolov said his message on the occasion of May 1 is for fair pay, safety at work, and prospects for workers in both the economy and the public sector. The procession was held under the slogan: “Security, jobs, wages! Now!” and was joined by BSP leader Krum Zarkov. Among the challenges facing workers, Manolov pointed to political instability and the turbulence related to the introduction of the euro. All of this affects the standard of living in Bulgaria, because wages are lagging behind prices and this must be corrected, the union leader said. Podkrepa has over 50 proposals related to strengthening the system of collective bargaining, including its introduction in the public administration, where such a mechanism does not currently exist, as well as easing the rules for organizing strikes, which he described as the workers’ most reliable tool, said Manolov.

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov told journalists there should be no drastic cuts in expenditures in the 2026 budget. According to him, the deficit could be kept within 3%. Dimitrov does not believe that Bulgaria’s finances are in a catastrophic state. “There are problems, but there is also a record surplus,” he said. CITUB will insist on a 10% increase of incomes, added Dimitrov. A longer and clearer vision for Bulgaria’s industrial development is another demand of the trade union.

On May Day, CITUB presented an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that gives consultations on labour rights. Users will be able to ask questions and receive answers regarding working conditions, income, collective bargaining, and workplace rights. The website is already available, and access to it is free. CITUB said that this is the first union AI assistant in Europe.