Bulgarian Parliament to Discuss Minimum Wage Rise

Bulgaria's Parliament is to discuss Wednesday the potential increase of the country's minimum monthly wage, proposed by Social Minister Totyu Mladenov.

As Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced Sunday, the minimum monthly salary may be increased from BGN 240 to BGN 270 starting July 1 2011.

Such a move demanded by syndicates since last year and proposed by Mladenov on several occasions, but generally opposed by Finance Minister Simeon Djankov who is sticking to an austerity program.

Employers' organizations have decisively opposed the measure, pointing out it would result in mass layoffs of workers.

However, early on Wednesday, Djankov told the bTV private channel he is in favor of the increase.

On Sunday, Borisov also tackled the potential rise of Bulgaria's retirement pensions, saying that a decision will be made in 10 days on how to go about raising them because the Cabinet of the center-right party GERB is concerned that it is upping the pensions right before the presidential and local elections in the fall of 2011 in order to boost its electoral support.

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