site.btaExperts Discuss Incomes, Pension System at CC Party Event in Sofia

Trade unions, employers, the academic community, experts, and representatives of nongovernmental organizations participated in a discussion titled "Young Families and Incomes" here on Monday. It was part of a series of debates organized by Continue the Change (CC) on important topics for the future of Bulgaria under the motto "A Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe". Topics included European incomes in Bulgaria, how to get back to a population of nine million people, fair pensions and equal access for people with disabilities. 

At the beginning of the meeting, CC leader Assen Vassilev said that the discussion was being held outside of the election campaign and was focused on where Bulgaria should be in 15 years' time, regardless of who is in power. Vassilev said that the increase in the minimum wage did not lead to higher unemployment, adding that this means that even in regions where the minimum and average wages have converged, the market has absorbed these levels quite normally.  

According to data presented by Assoc. Prof. Atanas Atanasov, President of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), there has been an upward trend in minimum and average wages in Bulgaria between 2007 and 2024. In 2007, the average wage was BGN 480 (EUR 245,42), rising to BGN 2,413 (EUR 1233,75) in 2024. He noted that the gap between the average and minimum wages is widening. He added that inequality remained high in terms of income throughout the period and that, compared to EU countries, Bulgaria had the third highest income inequality.

Lyuboslav Kostov, the chief economist of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), pointed out that Bulgaria's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 was 4.2 times lower than it is today in nominal terms. 

Atanas Katsarchev, chief economist of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, said that people with the lowest incomes should not be taxed. According to statistics, two-thirds of households have been on the brink of poverty in recent years, an issue that can be alleviated with a tax and social security reform. 

Petar Ganev from the Institute for Market Economics said that the next parliament must find a solution to avoid increasing the tax burden without resorting to extreme populist measures regarding wages. He added that changes are needed in social assistance provided by the State to reduce inequalities and ensure that the support reaches those who need it most. 

Georgi Ganev from the Centre for Liberal Strategies said that, according to Eurostat, Bulgaria is not at the bottom of the EU in terms of minimum wage and purchasing power. He said that tax system reform can be discussed once the State convinces everyone that their money is being spent effectively. 

During the debate on Bulgaria's pension system, Vassilev presented data from the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) on the funds from which pensions are paid. The number of pensioners currently stands at 2.066 million, down from 2.180 million, and remains relatively stable. Between 2016 and 2025, the average pension has tripled, while the minimum pension has increased fourfold. In 2025, the minimum pension is BGN 8 below the poverty line, the data show. The number of pensioners receiving pensions below the poverty line has fallen from 660,000 in 2016 to 285,000 in 2025. The minimum pension replaces about 53% of income.

Miroslav Marinov, Executive Director of Pension Assurance Company Doverie, noted that Bulgaria’s pension system has three pillars and that they should not be set against one another. He said the second pillar has generated solid returns in recent years. In Bulgaria, 25% of employed people are not fully compliant with their contributions to the universal pension fund.

Atanas Katsarchev, Chief Economist of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, said that a roadmap for pension reform should have been developed. The key question is how to balance the system, which requires extensive calculations and a broad discussion focused on protecting rights, rather than acting at the last minute, as happened with the budget, he explained.

Equal access for people with disabilities was also discussed during the event.

Venelin Stoychev of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences commented that in Bulgaria, when someone tries to develop public policies that are sustainable, they sometimes say that people do not understand because they lack the culture for it. He asked where this value-based resistance comes from. “Values are connected to the structures of consciousness; we need to move in several directions, and political participation is important,” Stoychev said.

“From social benefits to a decent wage is something we can identify with,” commented Venko Sabrutev from CC. He added that for years, infrastructure in Bulgaria has not been designed with people with disabilities in mind, and that the state does not acknowledge this problem. 

Kristian Grigorov of the Centre for Independent Living quoted a recent survey showing that 95% of assistants for people with disabilities are their relatives, while only 5% are hired through the labour market and can easily leave because the money they receive is insufficient.

Vasil Dolapchiev, Chair of the Union of the Blind, highlighted that the legislation regulating the rights of people with disabilities is scattered across 45 legal acts, both primary and secondary legislation. He noted that in the last ten years alone, social spending by the state has been around BGN 20 billion, compared with BGN 5 billion previously. 

Georgi Kolev of the Union of Disabled Persons, quoting outgoing Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov, said that 12.4% of the population in Bulgaria identify as people with disabilities. He added that in 2025 more than 500,000 people received disability pensions, costing over BGN 4 billion. “Over the years we have had excellent laws for people with disabilities, but the control over implementation and the spending of funds is very low,” he stressed.