The CTU insisted on an urgent package of measures to support households and businesses due to rising prices and economic uncertainty. The union called for the immediate convening of a meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation to discuss the proposals, informs bTV.
Among the main ideas are the introduction of free public transport for vulnerable groups, fuel compensation for citizens and businesses, as well as ceilings on price increases for fuels and food from the small consumer basket
The CTU also proposes direct financial support for people with low incomes, deferral of electricity and heating bills, as well as a ban on suspending services for vulnerable households. In the energy sector, the union insists on maintaining the price of electricity for households and implementing measures to protect the energy poor.
Among the proposals are compensation for agricultural producers and an increase in food vouchers.
Here is the full position of the CITUB:
We expect both the government's intentions and our specific proposals to be discussed within the framework of the social dialogue. We recall that this is a natural continuation of the commitment made by Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov on March 26, 2026, and we emphasize that according to Bulgarian legislation, the National Trade Union Confederation is the legitimate body for resolving issues concerning the living standards and purchasing power of people.
The Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions insists on a package of measures for the second quarter of 2026 as follows:
Ensuring the sustainability of public transport through:
1.Providing a targeted subsidy for state and municipal transport enterprises to compensate for the high costs of energy carriers and fuels. The goal is to maintain the current levels of transport document prices in the urban and intercity network;
2. Introduction of completely free transport for preferential categories of citizens (pensioners, students, people with disabilities), as a mechanism for social protection against inflation.
Introduction of an energy mobility mechanism in areas without organized public transport. Provision of targeted compensation in the amount of 0.20 euros (0.40 leva) per liter of fuel (up to a limit of 70 liters per month) for households in settlements without access to a transport network. The measure should be strictly income-oriented, covering persons with a monthly income up to twice the amount of the official poverty line.
3.. Support for the transport business and limiting inflationary pressure on goods through:
3.1. Introduction of a mechanism for direct compensation for legal entities carrying out economic activities, in the amount of 0.40 BGN (0.20 EUR) per liter of fuel.
3.2. Differentiation of monthly limits according to the capacity of vehicles: up to 500 liters per month for a light commercial vehicle (up to 3.5 tons) and up to 1000 liters per month for a heavy commercial vehicle (over 3.5 tons).“
4. Introduction of a ceiling on mark-ups in fuel trade, with regard to wholesalers it being up to 10%, while for retailers it being up to 20%. The aim of the measure is to ensure a smoother adaptation of Bulgarian households and businesses to the shock of the changed conditions on the global fuel market.
5.Temporary reduction of the requirements of Bulgarian legislation regarding the inclusion of biofuel (bioadditives) in conventional diesel fuels, as a tool for a rapid reduction in the price of the final product.
6.Introduction of a ceiling on mark-ups, for example of 20%, for food products that are part of the small consumer basket - a measure with a wide-ranging effect on the consumption of all Bulgarian households in a situation of widespread increase in price levels in the country.
7.For low-income households - payment of a subsidy for food products in an amount equal to twice the value of the small consumer basket. The assistance should be granted to persons with a monthly income of up to twice the poverty line.
8. To introduce a temporary ban on disconnecting electricity and heating supplies to vulnerable households during the period of the crisis measures.
9. To provide for interest-free deferral of electricity and heating bills for households experiencing temporary difficulties and having an income of up to twice the poverty line.
10. To ensure that the current base price of electricity for households, set by the Energy Regulatory Commission at 71.6 euros/MWh, is maintained after July 2026. For a large part of Bulgarian households, this is also a price that is difficult to bear, which is why we insist on the immediate implementation of the Energy Poverty Regulation in support of energy poor and vulnerable individuals. In this regard, it is necessary to guarantee, as a priority, the funds necessary to compensate for the difference with market prices of electricity for household consumers in the Energy System Security Fund. We approve a change in the current model for supporting energy-intensive enterprises to a more predictable and timely compensation mechanism, and this does not come at the expense of funds for supporting households from the Energy System Security Fund.
11. For agricultural producers – compensation for the purchase of fertilizers, expressed in a monthly payment of 20% of the value of the product against documents provided (invoices, documents proving payment - cash receipt or bank payment slip, bill of lading for the actual delivery) to the National Revenue Agency.
12.Increasing the current quota of food vouchers - from 818 million euros to 1 billion euros - a measure that would allow employers to provide a greater scope and/or greater value of food vouchers provided to employees.
The measures proposed by the CITUB are temporary in nature, the term of which covers the second quarter of 2026. In order to gain broad public support, we believe that the National Assembly should sanction the caretaker government to use temporary financial resources from the country's fiscal reserve to secure the package of various measures against the increase in fuel prices and the increase in the price levels of basic goods and services.
In conclusion, the CITUB believes that convening the NCTS as soon as possible is an act of responsible behavior. The need to implement a wide range of timely and targeted support measures for households and businesses is fundamental to mitigating the negative effects of the global crisis and rapidly rising prices. In this regard, we hope that the request will be granted and we believe that together we can find and implement the most appropriate solutions to assist Bulgarian citizens in the current situation.