Yesterday, 10.06.2025, the delegate of the Bulgarian employers, Adv. Ivelin Zhelyazkov, presented the report of the Association of Bulgarian Employers' Organizations (AOBE) at the 113th session of the International Labor Conference in Geneva. He welcomed this highest decision-making forum of the International Labor Organization.
Adv. Zhelyazkov proudly noted that this year the Bulgarian employers' organizations, united in AOBE, have confirmed their representative status for a new 4-year period, during which they will continue their partnership relations with the Government and with the representative organizations of workers and employees. The common vision of the nationally representative employers' organizations is that with a functioning social dialogue and mutual compromises, together with the other social partners, it will be possible to achieve what is necessary for a better investment environment, decent jobs and adequate pay. Work continues to reach an agreement between the government, employers and unions to adopt a mechanism for negotiating and setting the minimum wage for the country. Although Bulgaria has ratified ILO Convention 131, no such mechanism has yet been adopted and the minimum wage continues to be determined only by an administrative decision based on a formula, without an obligation to hold negotiations between the social partners on the weight of the individual elements of the mechanism, in accordance with the Convention.
"The Republic of Bulgaria has managed to maintain financial discipline and remain among the countries with the lowest budget deficits and public debt. The predictable and stable tax environment is based on low fixed rates of 10% for both corporate tax and personal income tax. Since the beginning of this year, Bulgaria has received full Schengen membership, which was the final step in facilitating free movement within the EU. As a result of these achievements and in conditions of low inflation, the Republic of Bulgaria has been part of the ERM-II exchange rate mechanism for the 5th year and these days we have received a positive convergence report on our recent (as of 1.1.2026) accession as a full member of the euro area, because we have met all the criteria. This is an opportunity for our country to improve its competitiveness by obtaining a higher credit rating and reducing transaction costs, as well as to promote competition and participate in the decision-making processes for the euro area monetary policy. All these positive facts are a guarantee that the Republic of Bulgaria is a good a place to invest, which gives me the confidence to say – come and see for yourself! Finally, I would like to confirm the determination of the Bulgarian employers' organizations to work for the authority and role of the ILO and the International Labour Conference as the highest forum for decision-making in favor of member states, employers and workers – each individually and all together,” concluded Mr. Zhelyazkov.
