site.btaGovernment, Unions Discuss Worker Protections in Coal Regions During Energy Transition

Representatives of the government and labor unions met here Monday to discuss measures aimed at protecting the rights of workers in coal regions during Bulgaria’s energy transition. The focus was on opportunities for training and retraining, enabling workers to find new employment within the evolving labor market.

The discussion was based on findings from a recent study assessing the skills and development outlook of workers currently employed in thermal power plants and coal mines in the regions of Stara Zagora, Kyustendil, and Pernik. Participants agreed that efforts must avoid creating anxiety among workers and emphasized the need for a clearer and more consistent information campaign targeting those affected.

Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Natalia Efremova said that the government is considering social protection measures for people nearing retirement who may lose their jobs, as well as policies to keep them active in the workforce. “When someone is still capable of working, it’s better for them to remain on the labor market,” she said. Efremova also noted that her ministry is in talks with local authorities to attract future investments beyond the coal sector and to ensure that enough skilled workers are available to support them.

Plamen Dimitrov, president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), stressed that expecting these specialists to accept lower wages is unrealistic. “Naturally, we’ve seen about 1,600 workers move elsewhere—many of them went to Arsenal,” he said. He emphasized that regional differences require tailored approaches to worker protections. If two household members are employed in the sector and are of working age, there must be targeted support for that family, Dimitrov added, stressing that “everyone must be protected.”

Dimitrov also pointed out the negative effects of lacking coordinated actions for transitioning coal regions. He referenced Poland, where a law allows workers within five years of retirement who can’t find suitable employment to receive a percentage of their salary until retirement. “The real question is how much this would cost the state to ensure a fair transition,” he said.

Deputy Energy Minister Krasimir Nenov noted that, in line with climate policies, coal-fired electricity production is expected to gradually decrease. The updated national energy and climate plan reflects this shift. Mines, he said, will need to operate more flexibly and focus on long-term sustainability, while power plants should move toward modernization and diversification, including potential use of biomass.

Alexander Zagorov, Secretary of the Podkrepa Labour Confederation, emphasized the importance of increasing investment, sustainability, and enterprise development in coal regions. He added that coal-fueled thermal power plants are part of Bulgaria’s energy security and that their transformation should not involve closure, but instead rely on existing workers, equipment, and capabilities.