Finally, the parliament decided that the minimum wage should be 50% of the national average one. With 159 „for“, no „against“ votes and 44 „abstentions“, the deputies accepted an increase in the minimum wage. For the following year, the minimum wage is determined by September 1 of the year and is equal to 50% of the average wage. It will be calculated for a period of 12 months, which includes the last two quarters of the previous year and the first two quarters of the current year.
The decision enters into force three days after its publication in the State Gazette. The procedure starts from September 1 and takes effect from the new year. Deputies are considering changes to the labor code to create a mechanism to determine the minimum wage relative to the average.
The draft law submitted by BSP and edited by GERB stipulates that the minimum wage for the country for the next year should be determined by September 1 of the current year and should be 50% of the average wage. GERB suggest considering the average salary for the previous year, BSP 12 months back, and „We continue the change“ – 6 months back.
After a series of adjournments for various reasons, the BSP bill to increase the national income tax entered the second reading in the plenary hall.
„We propose that the minimum wage be determined by September 1 in the amount of up to 50% of the average wage of the previous year. To enter into force on January 1, 2024,“ said Denitsa Sacheva from GERB. Iskren Arabadjiev from „We continue the change“ pointed out:
„It is not a good practice to increase the salary in the middle of the year because the companies have already made their calculations.“
„We are making an application to be July 1, 2023. We do not accept that in the middle of the year it cannot be changed. Inflation does not understand this term. Now these half a million people are in need,“ explained Kornelia Ninova from BSP. Ivaylo Mirchev, „Democratic Bulgaria“, said:
„Democratic Bulgaria will support GERB’s proposal for January 1, 2024. The words „the previous year“ should be dropped and the words „12 months from July of the previous year to June of the current year“ should be taken.”
The procedure comes into force in September this year and the actual increase will be from 2024.
