“We are ready to support the introduction of a “threshold” of dignity” in wages and to regulate the minimum wage not to be below 50% of the average gross and 60% of the median gross wage for the country”. This was said by the resigned Minister of Labor and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva at a round table organized by CITUB on the topic - The Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the European Union.

According to her, the EC proposal for adequate minimum wages in the European Union aims to meet the challenges of the labor market arising from demographic change, digitalization and new forms of employment. The role of minimum wages becomes even more important during an economic downturn and no statutory minimum wage or collective bargaining of any category of workers should be allowed.

During the discussion, Sacheva also commented on the requirement that employers using access to public procurement have concluded a collective agreement with their employees. She pointed out that there is no greater public protection than the one already provided in the Public Procurement Directive and that this will not reduce the level of protection of employees.