site.btaGovernment Proposes EUR 660 Minimum Wage for 2027

The government has proposed raising Bulgaria's minimum wage to EUR 660 under a draft Cabinet decree available for public consultation on Thursday.

The proposed rate would apply from January 1, 2027. The draft decree is published on the Public Consultation Portal.

If adopted, the proposal would raise the minimum wage by EUR 39.80, or 6.4%, from EUR 620.20 in 2026. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy said the increase would stimulate labour market activity, raise the lowest earnings, reduce income inequality and poverty, and improve purchasing power and living standards.

The Cabinet approved the procedure and methodology for setting the minimum wage on Wednesday. Under the new rules, the government must set the following year's minimum basic monthly wage by August 15 each year, within specified lower and upper limits.

Parliament approved a new mechanism on September 25, 2026, linking the minimum wage to purchasing power and living costs, wage levels and distribution, wage growth and long-term labour productivity. The Labour Code changes also require its adequacy to be assessed every three years.

The Finance Ministry had already projected EUR 660 for 2027 in budget guidelines published on August 27, 2026. On September 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev said the rate would fall between EUR 620.20 and EUR 672.80, with unions and employers yet to agree on an exact figure.