Bulgarian Interior Ministry Officials Planning to Protest Proposed Reforms
Domestic | February 29, 2016, Monday // 13:47| viewsPolicemen blocking Eagles' bridge in Sofia during their protests in November last year. File photo
Bulgarian interior ministry officials are preparing to stage protests against the proposed amendments to the Interior Ministry Act.
Trade unions are not agreeing with around 30 % of the amendments offered by the team of Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova.
Warning protests are planned to be held across the country prior to the first reading of the proposed amendments in parliament as well as a large-scale national protest between the first and second readings.
The proposed amendments foresee decreasing the annual paid annual leave of new interior ministry officials from thirty to 25 days and reducing the number of salaries paid upon retirement from twenty to twelve.
According to trade unions, the proposed amendments to the Interior Ministry Act are not representing genuine reform, Darik radio informs.
The trade union of firefighters also expressed readiness for protest due to the lack of dialogue with the leadership of the interior ministry over the proposed reforms.
Firefighters are against the planned cut of paid annual leave from thirty to 25 days and the decrease in the number of salaries paid upon retirement starting from 2017.
They are also concerned about the forthcoming restructuring of the fire service into an agency, which according to them will increase administrative staff without addressing the shortage of firefighetrs.
The trade union insists for reviewing the bill adopted by the government at the trilateral council featuring representatives of the cabinet, trade unions and employers’ organizations.
Proposed cuts to the remuneration, retirement conditions and social benefits of interior ministry officials resulted in large-scale protests across Bulgaria in November last year.
The government conceded to the demands of protesters and withdrew the proposed reforms.
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