site.btaAgricultural, Forestry Sector Employees Hold Protest to Demand Salary Increase

Employees of the agriculture and forestry sector protested on Wednesday in Sofia demanding an increase in salaries. The protest was organized by the National Federation of Agriculture and Forestry of the Podkrepa Confederation of Trade Unions.

Anelia Ivanova, Chairwoman of the Federation, emphasized that salaries of around BGN 1,500 to BGN 1,700 for employees in the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Environment and Water Ministry are very low, given the skilled work they do. Additional funds in the amount of EUR 65 million must be secured for new individual salaries for the 2026 budget, she noted. 

There were cups with planted pine trees at the site, each of which bears the name of a parliamentary representative from all parliamentary groups. "If they don't do anything, at least they should have planted a pine tree so that there is some benefit from them," said Pavel Chariyski, deputy chair of the Federation.

On Monday, employees of state agencies demanded a 20% salary increase across several cities in Bulgaria.