Bulgarian PM Orders FinMin to Clarify Bonuses Issue

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, is in Brussels where he is attending the summit of EU leaders on the so-called Fiscal Pact. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has ordered his Deputy and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, to inform the public about end-of-years bonuses at his institution.

Borisov spoke for the media from Brussels where he is attending the summit of EU leaders on the so-called Fiscal Pact.

"I told Minister Djankov to make the respective clarifications in Bulgaria if there are questions from the media and the public," he said.

The news that Djankov offered bonuses in the amount of BGN 233 725 at the end of 2011 was reported by the Bulgarian "Trud" (Labor) daily Monday, citing the Head of the Human Resources Department at the Finance Ministry.

Under the Access to Public Information act, "Trud" has requested information on the amount of additional pay, including bonuses, which has been distributed in the Finance Ministry. The later complied, but firmly refused to give information about individual amounts, citing the Protecting Personal Data Act.

The newspaper, however, quotes its own anonymous sources, saying that some Department Heads have received bonuses between BGN 30 000 and BGN 37 000.

The official information of the Ministry shows that 28% (176) of all 620 employees have been awarded monetarily, which is an average of BGN 1 328 per person – about or more than the monthly wage of these employees.

In an interview, however, given two months earlier, Djankov declared that while his is Finance Minister, State servants would receive the so-called 13th salary, which in Bulgaria is their Christmas bonus.

"Trud" writes Tuesday that the Ministry still refuses to give the requested information, obviously unaware of the PM's order.

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