Bulgaria ranks sixth in the European Union in terms of the value of production in the metallurgical industry. This was said by Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Irina Shtonova, who attended today the signing of the Branch Collective Labour Agreement in the Metallurgy sector. She added that the output of this sector exceeds BGN 10 billion and accounts for 15% of the country’s GDP, which is proof of its importance at the national level.
‘I congratulate you on the fact that despite the crises you managed to guarantee better conditions for the workers in the sector,’ Deputy Minister Shtonova stressed. In her words, the agreement is proof that when there is an active social dialogue between employers and trade unions, the end result is better conditions for workers. She also stressed that the metallurgical industry is the backbone of the Bulgarian economy and the basis for the development of many other economic sectors, and behind the good results stand all the workers in this sector.
The sectoral collective labour agreement was signed by the Bulgarian Association of the metallurgical Industry, Trade Union ‘Metalitsi’ at the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria and National Federation ‘Metallurgy” at the Labor Confederation ‘Podkrepa’. It provides for a minimum wage of BGN 950, almost double pay for night work compared to national levels (BGN 1.80/hour compared to BGN 1/hour nationally), overtime up to 300 hours per year, etc.
The event was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Lazar Lazarov, the President of the CITUB Plamen Dimitrov, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Industrial Association Dobri Mitrev, representatives of the branch and trade union organizations and the business.