The absurdity with the two different minimum wages from January 1, 2025 is already causing problems - in the education system.
"School and kindergarten directors are facing a series of difficulties regarding the implementation of the decision of the Council of Ministers to change the minimum wage from January 1, 2025", alarms on "Facebook" the chairman of the Union of Directors in the Public Education System, Diyan Stamatov.
We recall that since the New Year, by a decree of the Council of Ministers, the minimum wage for the country has become 1077 leva, or 15.4% more. This is the lowest remuneration for the private sector and all those working on an employment contract in the public sector.
However, for civil servants who work on a service contract, the minimum wage remained 933 leva - until the adoption of a new budget or until the issue is settled in an extension law, where their remuneration should be indicated.
Stamatov points out that although there is a decision of the Council of Ministers to change the minimum wage, there is no budget to ensure the payment of the planned increase. He recalls that in schools and kindergartens, in the absence of a budget, 1/12 of last year's subsidy is transferred. In this way, last year's expenses for salaries, insurance and maintenance are guaranteed.
"In kindergartens, 60% of the staff, and in schools 10% of the staff, are on a minimum wage or a salary directly tied to the minimum. In kindergartens, as well as in small schools, the funds for January will not allow the payment of the new minimum wages.
This will lead to unnecessary tension in the teams, as well as problems for the directors," warns Stamatov. According to him, there has been talk of changing the minimum wage since the summer of 2024, and about providing it with real funds - only since December, thus the state, through its forms of government, faces a series of difficulties in implementing its decisions.
"I do not know a director who will not implement a decision of the Council of Ministers despite the lack of funds provided. There is no employee who is on a minimum wage who does not expect to receive his salary in January. At the same time, in many places there will actually be a shortage of funds to implement the decision. For each worker, the director will be responsible for this, as the state's representative in the organization, despite the fact that his fault is actually none, Stamatov believes.