site.btaTrade Unions Request Meeting with PM to Discuss Financial Situation of State Forestry and Hunting Enterprises

The Podkrepa Confederation of Labor and the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) sent a letter to the Prime Minister requesting an urgent meeting to discuss adequate and timely measures for state forestry and hunting enterprises, the Podkrepa Confederation of Labor's press center said on Wednesday. The two unions note that there is tension in the sector due to the need for wage increases.

“Every year during the summer months, Bulgaria is trapped in forest wildfires, in which workers of state forestry and hunting enterprises are active participants in extinguishing them,” the letter reads. “The sector is chronically underfunded, which is reflected in low wages, inadequate provision of specialized personal protective clothing and equipment, and the necessary specialized and auxiliary firefighting equipment,” it adds.

According to the two trade unions, the meeting with the Prime Minister should also be attended by the ministers of agriculture and food, finance, and economy. Adequate and timely action should be discussed at the meeting and taken by the relevant ministers, including changes to the regulatory framework.

"It is imperative, with your consent, to commission, develop, coordinate, and approve a medium-term plan for the financial stabilization of state forestry and state hunting enterprises by October 1, 2025, at the latest, taking into account the specific characteristics of the respective state-owned forests and hunting grounds, the activities assigned by legislation, changes in the timber market, and the capabilities of the local wood processing industry," the letter to the Prime Minister also notes.