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