Dragomir Stoinev, Chairman of the Labour and Social Policy Committee: Lawmakers should not receive supplementary retirement benefits

- Mr. Stoinev, the President convened the Economic Development and Social Policy Council on Thursday. What decisions were adopted?
- The initiative of the President was aimed at holding a widespread discussion and seeking a consensus on the priorities that will be co-financed by the European Social Fund in the period 2014-2020. This Fund is one of the most important instruments of the European Union for solving the problems of the labour market, education and social inclusion. Unfortunately, it is merely a tool for the implementation of social policy, but there is a lack of generally defined objectives and priorities in terms of the social development of Bulgaria until 2020. Without them, the debate is almost impossible. Of course, all representatives of political forces, the legislative authority and the executive power, as well as the social partners and civil society organisations presented their positions on the proposed document.

But we were impressed by the absence of support to the secondary education in the next programming period and therefore we expressed this as a position of the Bulgarian Socialist Party. Regarding the employment, we should mention the connection between the labor market and the education sector. In my opinion, all political forces should be united by the idea for development of the education, which should become a national cause, as was Bulgaria's accession to the EU. It is impossible for Bulgaria to have a competitive economy, higher productivity and hence higher incomes, unless our nation is highly-educated. We explicitly insist on the establishment of an operational programme for education and science in order to support this cause. We back the basic principles presented by the President, but we also have many observations, such as the uncertainty of dealing with the high levels of youth unemployment.

- In this context, the Prime Minister urged youths of up to 29 years of age to participate in a six-month internship programme in which employers will be also rewarded. Can this programme solve the problems of the youth unemployment?
- For a year and a half, we have constantly insisted on the drafting of measures to tackle the youth unemployment, which is also a major initiative of the European Socialists. Unfortunately, the GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) government failed to pay attention to our main concerns for the extremely steep increase in this type of unemployment. Regretfully, Bulgaria ranks first in terms of unemployment growth rate. Merely a few days ago, the GERB government really took specific measures, but for me it was too late. We lost an entire generation of doctors, engineers, nurses who left our country. According to a survey of BAS (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), approximately 200,000 young people under 29 years of age are ready to emigrate. For me, this is a problem concerning the national security because no labour force will remain to operate in Bulgaria. As regards the drafted measures of the GERB government, I would say that it is good that they were adopted late than never, but they refer mainly to internships, while the young people want above all to find jobs immediately after completion of their higher education.

Unfortunately, GERB does not accept our measures, which could supplement their initiative. We propose amendments to the Social Security Code, as well as modifications in corporate taxation and alterations to the Employment Promotion Act. These measures will lead to increased internship opportunities and incentives for the employers, because the Bulgarian state can assume part of the insurance contributions, which they must pay for a six-month period.

- The supplementary retirement benefit for civil servants was repealed, but the BSP representatives actually protested. Is there, however, such a supplementary pay in other countries?
- I cannot answer specifically, but anyway all governments hitherto complied with these ssupplementary retirement benefits and nothing required their revocation except for the desire of reducing the salaries of civil servants.

- But the actual agreement was that they will be compensated and will continue to receive the same remuneration?
- This was the actual stipulation, but there are many uncertainties and I am not convinced that eventually all state employees will continue to receive the same wages.

- Lawmakers, however, still receive such a seniority bonus for retirement.
- Yes, this is an improper remuneration practice.

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