Dozens of Bulgarian Foreign Ministry employees went on a one-hour effective strike on Wednesday to demand higher salaries.
The employees tossed yellow pennies at the ministry’s headquarters to express their disapproval of their low wages. Employees at the ministry are planning an effective strike from 1 December.
Officials from the Foreign Affairs Minister warned that if there is no reaction, effective strike actions will also begin in the foreign missions of Bulgaria.
Martin Kolev, chairman of the Professional Union of Servants of the Diplomatic Service said that they are demanding that their salaries come closer to other similar ministries that deal with issues of national security and sovereignty such as the Defence Ministry and the Internal Affairs Ministry.
During the strike, the work process will be suspended but consular services abroad are not expected to close.
A minimum of two foreign languages and a master’s degree are required for the diplomatic rank. “I have three foreign languages and a master’s degree. I also have colleagues in a similar situation, and my salary is below BGN 1,500 (€750) per month,” he said. This is close to the average salary in the public sector in Bulgaria.
Kolev pointed out that so far an increase of up to 30% has been discussed.
(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)
Source: euractiv.com
