The Bulgarian reality

The Bulgarian agriculture Traditional sector; Last 20 years - from a slow decline to a total collapse; Then slightly increase and stability of the sector; Massif restructuring; Dramatic decrease of agricultural workforce; after 2007 – a slow progress in Agriculture; Agriculture as a priority sector; 2010 – funds absorption 30%.

Employees and workers tobacco producers registred farmers employed under permanent contract in comparison to 2003 – 1,3 mln workers

 The aging of the workforce:  under 35 years - about 7 %;  older than 55 years - 59%.  Law educational level;  limited access to the social security system;  The fragmentation of the ownership of the land:  95% - small farms - average size ≤ 2 ha;  3.3% - large farms over 100 ha.  The long-lasting unemployment - 35 %÷ 65%;  Reasons – low wages, heavy working conditions, bad infrastructure and social conditions, weak investments interest.

 Seasonal workers – non unemployment benefits;  Undeclared work – 20%;  Low wages – ! 263 Euro / month;  insufficient working conditions;  Non vocational training for the workers;

 Two aspects of mobility of BG workers in agriculture in EU:  Out – of – country - The emigration has slightly decreased in the last few years but still predominates  Spain – p.  Greece – 50 – p.  Germany – p.  UK and Ireland – p  Intra – migration;  Promotion measures of mobility under National Employment program (still week effect on mobility).

 Working and living conditions: Labour contracts Salary – depends on the status but normally lower 37% do not report for any social benefits – no paid leave Overtime work – 9 hours/d and 45 hors/week, Little or no health and safety at work place; family separation; Social benefits and pension rights – vulnerable; TU – membership - no interest!, fear, violation;  Qualification and requalification – it is not for the BG workers abroad

 The biggest national represented trade union organization in the sector;  Expert participation in all bipartite and three-partite structures of the social dialogue at national level;  European sectoral social dialogue – EFFAT (2005)  members in 128 TUO - in the following branches:  National irrigation systems in Agriculture  Bulgarian agency for food safety;  Scientific and Research Institutes, united in Agricultural Academy which comprises production bases  Agencies and regional offices in the frame of Ministry of Agriculture and Food  Agricultural cooperatives

 Restructuring of the sector ;  The economic and financial crisis;  Lack of legal rights to collective bargaining for state employees;  The diversity of the brunches;  Trade union members - in the real sector and the public/state sector.  Freezing of wages;  Irregular payment of funds;  low absorption of EU funds from the PRD.

 Freezing the wages, not decreasing them;  National agreement for tele work;  National agreement for domestic work;  4 sectoral collective agreements extended;  Agreement for minimum social security thresholds– 5.6% increase;  6 Branch collective agreements signed;  specific agreements for the state employees.

 social programs;  days plus for the annual leave;  days plus for the workers, providing extra work;  Higher compensations for dismissal and retiring ;  Additional payments for qualification degree ;  additional payments for acquired working and professional experience – basic salary x 1,3;  For night shifts - 2 to 4 times higher;  Food vouchers and additional social payments for childbirth, holidays etc.  Fund "Social and trade union activities“ not less than 10% of accrued wages.

Enlarging the scope of collective bargaining in more branches of the sector Enrichment of the content of collective bargaining Initiate legislative reforms: regulating the right of state employees for collective bargaining; Précising the criteria for representation Conclusion of a sectoral collective agreement