No talks set between employers and council, says Radev

Bulgarian employers will not convene with Joint Management Council representatives, according to Rumen Radev of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria. Business organizations remain undecided about attending the social partners gathering scheduled for Thursday, anticipating no modifications to the proposed budget following last week’s Tripartite Council impasse.

Podkrepa labor confederation president Dimitar Manolov indicated his union may also skip the tripartite session, noting employers have extended no invitation for bilateral discussions despite upcoming internal employer meetings to plan future actions. Manolov suggested to Plamen Dimitrov that unions should abstain if authorities prioritize only business perspectives.

Employer dissatisfaction centers on dividend tax increases, elevated maximum social security thresholds, and the two percentage point pension contribution hike. Last week, business representatives boycotted the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation meeting, effectively stalling budget proceedings, while unions requested inclusion in coalition discussions scheduled for Tuesday.