site.btaEmployees of Social Assistance Directorate in Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse Demand 20% Salary Increase

Employees of the Social Assistance Directorate in Veliko Tarnovo, North Central Bulgaria, and Ruse, Northeastern Bulgaria, on the Danube, protested Wednesday demanding a 20% salary increase.

The protesters pointed out that gross salaries in the sector vary between BGN 1,500 and 2,000, which does not correspond to the responsibility and workload of their daily work, including additional working hours. According to them, the starting salary in the sector is the minimum for the country, and even management positions only reach around BGN 2,000, given the highly qualified work they do.

The average age of personnel in the system is about 50 years old, and more and more young specialists are giving up the profession due to the high workload and low pay, they stressed.

If the demand for a 20% wage increase is not met, the employees are ready to move to effective strike action, they stated.