Bulgarian Cabinet, Trade Unions to Continue Talks on Reforms in Interior Ministry

Police officers protest against planned cuts in their social benefits package in front of parliament building in Sofia, Nov.8, 2015. Photo: BGNES

A new round of talks between the Bulgarian government and trade unions on the reforms to be carried out in the Interior Ministry is expected to start on Monday.

The discussion will concern the proposed budget of the ministry for next year, which initially foresaw cuts to the social benefits of officials.

The proposed cuts, which concerned the compensation paid at retirement, remuneration and paid holidays, caused major discontent among the ministry's officials.

After several days of protests by police officers across the country last week, including a large-scale demonstration in Sofia on Sunday, the government decided to withdraw the proposed changes for discussion.

Despite the decision of the government, policemen and prison offciers from across the country gathered at a protest in front of the building of the Bulgarian parliament on Sunday.

Trade unions informed that there is readiness for protests to continue, with the next one scheduled to take place on Thursday when the draft budget for 2016  is expected to be discussed by the parliamentary budget committee.

A new bill on the interior ministry has been tabled to parliament, private NOVA TV reports.

According to Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova, the new bill will serve as a good basis for the start of the negotiations.

Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev informed that consultations on the defence ministry's budget are to begin on Monday with all parliamentary represented parties.

The government had proposed similar cuts to the social benefits of defence ministry officials.

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