site.btaSocial Assistance System Aims to Cover Basic Needs, Says Caretaker Labour Minister Ademov

When discussing water pricing and the structural problems in the water supply sector, there are also social dimensions to consider, caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov said during a plenary session of the Economic and Social Council (ESC), the Ministry’s press centre reported.

Ademov added that the goal of the social assistance system is to cover basic needs, including access to water supply.

He recalled that in 2023 the poverty line was introduced in the Social Assistance Act as a basis for determining the resources needed to cover essential needs.

The Ministry also noted that Bulgaria is expected to ratify the directive on so-called platform workers in 2026. The aim is to determine when employment through platforms, such as delivery services, qualifies as labour and when it falls under civil contracts. A working group has already been established at the Labour Ministry to address the issue.

The Minister congratulated the ESC on its work and effectiveness, saying it has established itself as an indispensable body whose opinions are important for shaping the decisions of State institutions.

"We have already identified topics on which we will seek your opinion so that we can be supported by civil society," Ademov added.