Bulgaria's Economy Minister to Visit Troubled Arms Manufacturer

Industry | June 13, 2013, Thursday // 10:07|  views

On May 15, Bulgaria's Agency for Privatization and Post-Privatization Control (PPCA) launched a new procedure for the sale of 100% of the capital of VMZ Sopot. Photo by BGNES

Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev is to visit Bulgaria's largest arms factory, VMZ Sopot, to meet with the chief executives and trade union representatives at the plant.

Workers of VMZ Sopot are once again facing the problem of unpaid salaries after 850 employees were laid off.

Dimitar Atanasov, leader of the Podkrepa Labor Confederation at the military plant, told the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) that the workers had once again been placed in a humiliating situation, having to wait for three delayed payments - a part of the payment for February, the salary for March, and the advance payment for April.

Atanasov noted that the workload of the financially troubled state-owned military plant was insufficient.

Asked whether the workers were gearing up for new protests, Atanasov responded that he could not comment before Thursday's meeting with Stoynev.

"MPs came here, talked to the people, they got elected, and now they need to do as they promised – we will remind them of this, "he stated.

VMZ Sopot has debts of around BGN 170 M and all of its assets have been placed under a mortgage or pledged as collateral of creditors.

The troubled arms factory also faces a bankruptcy lawsuit.

On May 15, Bulgaria's Agency for Privatization and Post-Privatization Control (PPCA) launched a new procedure for the sale of 100% of the capital of VMZ Sopot.

The previous attempt to sell VMZ Sopot collapsed after the sole bidder failed to submit a deposit together with the binding offer.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: VMZ Sopot, Dragomir Stoynev, privatization, military plant

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search