site.btaDefence Minister Meets with Podkrepa Confederation President

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov held a meeting with Dimitar Manolov, President of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, one of Bulgaria’s largest trade union organizations in Bulgaria, the Ministry said in a press release on Monday. Zapryanov briefed Manolov on the Ministry’s efforts to uphold and enforce labour legislation within the Defence Ministry, its directly subordinated structures, and the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

He emphasized that, as a responsible social partner, the Ministry places the well-being and pay of defence personnel as a top priority.

Manolov highlighted the good cooperation between the Union and the Ministry across all areas of joint activity. The meeting coincided with the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Podkrepa-affiliated Defence National Trade Union.

The talks also addressed income policy for all staff categories, the Ministry’s approach to the state-owned defence company TEREM EAD, and overall working conditions.

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev, Permanent Secretary of Defence Anton Lastardzhiev, Chair of the Defence National Trade Union, Todor Vodenov, as well as directors of departments within the Ministry.