Bulgarian Miners Mark Professional Day amidst Discontent

A press conference and awards ceremony will be held in Sofia Sunday on occasion of Bulgaria's Miner's Day. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian miners celebrate Sunday, August 18, their Professional Day, which is marked on the Day of Saint Ivan Rilski.

The celebrations started with a liturgy for health at the "Saint Nedelya" cathedral in the capital Sofia, which was attended by Economy and Energy Minister, Dragomir Stoynev.

The assumption of St Ivan Rilski was designated as the miners' professional day 110 years ago with a decree of Tsar Ferdinand, issued on the proposal of miners from the western mining city of Pernik.

There will be an official press conference to present a summary on the development of the sector in 2012 and bestow awards to the highest achieving mining companies and for socially responsible ones.

The celebrations, however, come once again on the backdrop of warnings for looming large-scale miners' strikes over the forecast for mass layoffs and the deplorable work conditions, leading to often-deadly incidents.

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