February 3 (BTA) - In the last quarter of 2021, two
adults and a child under 14 needed a net monthly income of 2,066
 leva, according to the latest cost of living survey by the
Institute for Social and Trade Union Research with the
Confederation of independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB)
prices. Its findings were presented via video conference by the
Institute's Deputy Director Violeta Ivanova. According to her,
the cost of living increased by 181 leva in 2021.

Institute's Director Lyuboslav Kostov said that the 2022 draft
budget did not give any indication that the government plans
compensation for income loss. The minimum working wage lost its
purchasing power in 2021, but it won't be able to recover it
from April 1 given the new projections for inflation of 7.5 per
cent and not the one laid out in the budget of 5.6 per cent.
According to him, there is one unknown factor whether there will
 be a military conflict in Ukraine and how this will affect the
prices of natural gas.

In the last quarter of 2021 the prices of foods and non-food
products grew. The increase was primarily drive by the prices of
 еnergy and natural gas which increased nearly five-fold, said
Ivanova.

"Since March 2021 we have fallen short of the cost of living and
 the minimum working wage should have increased by more than 60
leva, as the incumbent had envisaged," said CITUB President
Plamen Dimitrov.

In his words some 500,000 self-employed who accounted for 22 per
 cent of all employed persons in September 221 receive the
minimum working wage. They are mainly employed in agriculture,
forestry and fisheries, the processing industry, construction,
the hospitality industry, automotive repairs, commerce and are
outside the public sector, added Dimitrov.

Compared with the EU Bulgaria has the lowest minimum working
wage. CITUB projects that in 2022 the average working wage in
Bulgaria will reach 1,734 leva, said Dimitrov. According to him
as of July 1 2022 the minimum working wage should be set at 760
leva and it should increase by 100 leva from 2023.

Lyuboslav Ivanov presented the hourly labour costs. At 6.5 euro
per hour Bulgaria has the lowest labour cost. Ivanov said that
Bulgaria falls way short of the average EU levels. The Bulgarian
 worker has half the labour productivity but receives four to
five times less.

CITUB calls for a non-taxable minimum equal to the minimum
working wage and an increase of wages in the public sector by 10
 per cent.

Dimitrov added that wages, pensions and energy prices cause
serious concern and that CITUB will urge for a reallocation and
an increase of budget expenditures by 650 million leva. RY/PP

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