Bulgarian Labor Unions Renew Protest Campaign

Inside the KNSB headquarters, people pay tribute to the late labor union leader Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov, who passed away at the age of 62 on September 15.

Bulgaria's labor union Confederation of Bulgarian Independent Syndicates, KNSB, is reinstalling the protest tent camp in Sofia Monday.

The labor unions are opposing the proposals for amendments to the Social Insurance Act, including the increase of the retirement age by 3 years.

The campaign and the building of the camp started last Thursday, but were postponed Friday and during the weekend over the funeral of the KNSB longtime leader – Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov, who passed away at the age of 62 on September 15.

The camp is located in the park adjacent to the Parliament in downtown Sofia.

Until October 16, the labor union will collect signatures demanding the Parliament strikes the amendments. The activists are also distributing leaflets to those who want to learn more about the amendments.

The labor union further announced they are staging a nation-wide protest for October 7 over the administrative, health and retirement reform. The other major labor union – "Podkrepa" is expected to join in.

The amendments were passed by the Parliament at first reading with only MPs from the far-right, nationalist Ataka party and the ruling, center-right GERB party voting yes on them. Social Policy and Labor Minister, Totyu Mladenov, said changes are likely to be made between the first and second reading.

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