Employees of the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) protested today, demanding an increase in salaries. The actions are blocking major road arteries in Sofia and Blagoevgrad, and further blockades are expected in key sections.
In the capital, the protest began at 12:00 p.m. at the intersection of „Nikola Petkov“ Blvd. and „Tsar Boris III“ Blvd. (Gornobanski Road). Traffic on both boulevards was halted, causing significant traffic disruptions. In addition to the intersection, MOEW employees also gathered in front of the ministry’s administrative building on „Maria Luiza“ Blvd. 22. The protest was joined by scientists and specialists from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), as well as members of Federation of Education Unions within the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria.
Protests were also held in Blagoevgrad, where employees of the Basin Directorate „Western Balkan Region,“ the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIOEW) – Blagoevgrad, the Regional Laboratory of the Executive Agency for Environmental Protection (EAEP), and the Rila National Park blocked traffic on „Dimitar Solunski“ Blvd. 66. The protesters announced plans to block the road between Bansko and Gotse Delchev, which will further impact the region.
The main demand of the protesters is an increase in salaries within the structures of the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW), where salaries currently stand at around 1400 BGN gross. They are calling for an urgent solution to the issue, appealing to members of parliament to take action to improve conditions in the sectors responsible for environmental protection.
„We expect the elected MPs to start working and take responsible decisions on the protest demands. This is a matter of respect for the working people who implement policies to protect the environment,“, the protesters said.
The protest was supported by the Federation of Independent Agricultural Trade Unions and the Federation of Forestry and Woodworking Trade Unions. Scientists from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) also expressed solidarity with the demands.
The demonstration by employees of the MoEW highlights the urgent need to improve wages and working conditions in the environmental protection sector. The MPs are expected to engage with the issue and provide a solution that will meet the expectations of the protesters and support sustainable environmental management in Bulgaria.
[…] Protest by MoEW employees blocked key intersections in Sofia and Blagoevgrad […]