Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov invited Gilbert Houngbo – Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) – to visit Bulgaria. “I would be pleased to visit Sofia,” said Houngbo, adding that such plans were already being considered. The two held a bilateral meeting during the 113th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva. Minister Gutsanov is heading the Bulgarian delegation, which includes representatives from the government, nationally representative workers’ and employers’ organizations, Gutsanov’s Ministry reported on Friday.
The two discussed opportunities for joint initiatives and shared their priorities. “The issue of fair wages is crucial to preventing the gap between the rich and poor from widening,” said Gutsanov. He thanked the ILO for the technical assistance provided to Bulgaria in the process of transposing the directive on adequate minimum wages. “We are working very seriously on the topic, and I believe we will have results within a few weeks,” he added.
Gutsanov and Houngbo also discussed the need for greater solidarity to mitigate the negative impact of global changes on workers.
As part of the 113th session of the International Labour Conference, Borislav Gutsanov also held a bilateral meeting with Austria’s Federal Minister for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection Korinna Schumann. Topics addressed included youth employment, labour law, safe and healthy working conditions, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
Minister Gutsanov emphasized the social challenges faced by both countries. “The ever-growing gap between the rich and poor is a problem across Europe,” he said, stressing the need to tackle inequalities.
“We must build a social Europe together,” said the Austrian Minister.
Minister Gutsanov noted that there are about 40,000 Bulgarian citizens working in Austria, 20,000 of whom are in Vienna. “We are always ready to cooperate if you find that Bulgarian citizens are facing challenges in Austria,” stated Minister Schumann.
The two also discussed problems related to labor shortages and the import of workforce from third countries.
/RY/
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