Caretaker PM Gerdjikov Hears Trade Union Confederation's Grievances

Sofia, February 2 (BTA) - Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov conferred with caretaker Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdjikov on Thursday.

The meeting was initiated by CITUB. The Confederation wants capital expenditures to be separated from the delegated budgets of secondary schools, cultural institutions and social establishments. Gerdjikov supported CITUB's initiative for redefining delegated budgets.

The caretaker PM agreed that the budget forecast for 2018-2020 will be laid before the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation before being considered by the Council of Ministers. Gerdjikov said that he will shortly come up with a position on CITUB's demand for a halt to the concession for Sofia Airport.

The Confederation also urged for a review of the price of local coal coming mainly from the Maritsa East basin and an urgent intervention of the Bulgarian administration to prevent a stiffening of requirements to greenhouse gas emissions from Bulgarian TPPs, which will lead to major turmoil and job losses, Dimitrov said.

CITUB would like Gerdjikov and President Rumen Radev to initiate a meeting, hosted by the head of State, with business executives and tradeunionists on questions concerning workers' pay and qualifications. The Confederation expects this meeting to take place as soon as possible.

Gerdjikov assured Dimitrov that he will guarantee all steps which are supposed to improve the participation of business and trade unions in decision-making on the European process. The Prime Minister found interesting CITUB's proposal to add a new topic during the forthcoming Presidency of the EU Council: the future of labour in the contest of digital and technological changes in the world and Europe. Gerdjikov also took a positive view of the Confederation's insistence on an active Bulgarian involvement in the adoption of the European Pillar of Social Rights.