01.12.2021
ANOTHER BGN 100 MILLION HAVE BEEN APPROVED UNDER THE MEASURE " KEEP ME +"
The government approved additional expenditures amounting to BGN 100m from the budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. The funds will be used under the measure "Keep me +" for the payment of compensation to employees and self-employed persons in the economic activities temporarily closed by an act of a state body due to Covid.
They will be entitled to receive funds in the amount of 75% of their insurance income for July 2021 for the days during which they used unpaid leave due to the imposed restrictions. By allocating the additional financial resource, about 60,000 employees will keep their jobs.
01.12.2021
NEW DEADLINES FOR TRANSFERRING THE SECOND PENSION TO THE NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY INSTITUTE
From the beginning of next year, new deadlines for the transfer of the second pension to the National Social Security Institute come into force.
From January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025 a person will be able to change his insurance up to 1 year before reaching retirement age under Art. 68, para. 1 of SSC.
From 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030 the term is extended to 2 years. From 1 January 2031 to 31 December 2035 it becomes 3 years, from 1 January 2036 to 31 December 2037 - 4 and after January 1, 2038 - 5 years.
At the end of June this year, another postponement for the transfer of the insurance for a second pension to the National Social Security Institute expired. This opportunity was given to people who missed the deadline to give up private pension funds. It provides for Bulgarians who until June 30, 2021 inclusive have less than 5 years to reach retirement age for the third category of work and who have not been granted a one-time pension, until June 30, 2021 to exercise the right of their choice to be insured only in the NSSI.
Everyone can check what pension they will receive through the NSSI electronic calculator and personal identification code.
01.12.2021
THEY GIVE GRANTS OF UP TO BGN 30,000 TO SMALL FARMS
The Ministry of Agriculture opened the reception under sub-measure 6.3 "Start-up aid for the development of small farms" of the Rural Development Program 2014-2020. The total amount of grants under the procedure is nearly BGN 40 million.
It aims to accelerate the modernization and technological renewal of small farms by increasing their economic development. Priority will be given to projects of candidates with education in agriculture, organic producers, as well as those who operate in mountainous areas.
Documents for participation can be submitted until 17:30 on 02.03.2022, and the full package can be found on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry: https://www.mzh.government.bg/bg/politiki-i-programi/programi-za-finansirane/programa-za-razvitie-na-selskite-rayoni/ and in the Information System for Management and Monitoring (UMIS 2020). The application and evaluation of proposals will be entirely electronic.
Potential applicants must be registered farmers and own a holding with a standard production volume (SPO) between the BGN equivalent of EUR 2,000 and EUR 7,999, inclusive.
The maximum amount of funds for one candidate is up to BGN 30,000, and their payment will be made in two stages. The first payment will be worth nearly BGN 20,000 and will be made within two months after the conclusion of the administrative contract. The final payment will be made after the exact implementation of the business plan, which will be certified by an on-site inspection by the State Fund "Agriculture" - Paying Agency.
We remind you that small farmers can use the services of the National Agricultural Advisory Service, which provides free of charge specialized consulting services, including the preparation of business plans for the sub-measure.
01.12.2021
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: HOW TRADERS CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN A PANDEMIC
To have a successful business in a pandemic, retailers need to turn stores into mini-distribution centers where customers can order online and pick up purchases, or arrange for immediate delivery. This is recommended by the international company Brother, the Bulgarian office of the company reports.
The announcement states that 34 percent of traders report an increase in revenue after offering an online ordering and collection service. Alternatively, traders can place orders for goods they have in stock and then distribute them through various delivery services.
During the strict restrictions associated with Covid, buyers felt very comfortable with faster contactless payment options, which they considered safer and more hygienic. Merchants are exploring options that allow consumers to pay according to their preferred method - whether they use a card, their phone or even portable technologies such as smart watches.
Traders who show social responsibility during a pandemic will gain more customers when life returns to normal, Brother said. Nearly two-thirds of consumers say ethical practices, such as fair pay, community contribution and care for the environment, are becoming increasingly important to them as a result of the pandemic. This position is most pronounced among buyers between the ages of 18 and 34, according to the company.
Most social platforms have embraced the possibility of "social trading". Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat have already introduced e-commerce features, and TikTok is testing e-commerce features in Europe, experts say.
30.11.2021
NATIONAL CONFERENCE "MEDIA LITERACY AGAINST DISINFORMATION"
The conference will be held on December 2, 2021 in a hybrid format, with only speakers and participants in the discussions will be physically present in the conference room, and everyone else will be able to watch and join in real time online on the Facebook page of the Coalition for Media Literacy.
In 2021, the conference focused on the development of lifelong media literacy as a countermeasure against disinformation campaigns. During the conference, current projects for the development of media literacy through and outside the education system will be presented, covering from the youngest to the oldest citizens of Bulgaria.
What are the problems and possible solutions, as well as what are the best approaches when working with each group, will be discussed by representatives of the civil sector, media, government institutions and business in the three thematic panel discussions of the event:
Media misinformation and its consequences
Media literacy in every subject live and online
Media literacy and lifelong learning
Special guests of the event are Martina Chapman [Media Literacy Ireland] and Christina de Brown [UNICEF in Bulgaria]. You will be able to hear their speeches immediately after the official opening of the conference.
The discussions will be moderated by: Vesislava Antonova (Manager magazine, National Council for Journalistic Ethics), Maria Cheresheva (Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria, Darik Radio) and Yana Peeva (Teen Station).
See the full program and information for all conference participants.
NB: No registration is required to be in the conference audience. Everyone will have the opportunity to follow the forum live on Facebook and ask questions to participants on the three main topics via a message under the stream or via Sli.do.
Official website of the conference in Bulgarian and English versions: https://conference2021.gramoten.li
29.11.2021
TIPS FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LINE MANAGER AND CO-WORKERS
You will probably sit down with your supervisor during your first working days to discuss your position and responsibilities in detail.
Ask this type of meeting to continue during your first working weeks to inform him how you are doing, what questions and ideas you have, what difficulties you are facing, and what suggestions you have for solving them.
You can discuss with him everything related to work, the company and how you feel there. However, do not bother him with small problems. For them, ask your colleagues for help.
Find out what your key priorities are and the problems your manager expects you to address (and why you were most likely hired), as well as what the key metrics are for measuring your job performance.
Find out how often he wants to be informed about your progress (every week, month or other time interval), and in what form and in what way he prefers to provide him with this report - orally or by email.
Ask your supervisor for feedback each week to know what you are doing well and what you need to improve. This is the only way to find out if you are on the right track and how you are doing your job. The feedback will also help you set future work goals.
Do not share problems with your supervisor without offering them two or three possible solutions. Describe several possible scenarios, discuss the pros and cons of each and come up with the right solution together. This will make you look like a person capable of solving problems, not just complaining about them.
TIPS ON YOUR RELATIONS WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES
It is extremely important to start making new contacts on your first day of work.
Whenever possible, communicate with colleagues in person, rather than by email or phone.
Save and use as many names as possible.
Introduce yourself to your new colleagues and find out what each of them does and how long they have been in the company.
Also get to know employees working in different departments in case you need their help.
If you are invited to have a drink after work - go! Talking to colleagues outside of your workplace will help you get to know them in their true light, as well as build good relationships with them.
Schedule meetings yourself (or with the help of your manager) with those employees who know your field of work best or are related to your work. Ask them what they think your responsibilities are. You can learn a lot about their expectations of you this way.
Big or small, it doesn't matter. If you watch carefully, you will recognize the opportunity to help someone. Not only will you be satisfied that you have helped, but your colleague will be grateful and remember you.
Try to find out who the key employees of the company are, as well as those who have the right to make decisions (they are not necessarily in management positions) and start building good relationships with them. Invite them periodically for coffee or lunch to find out how the company works and who the people behind its success are.
29.11.2021
ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN BULGARIA IS HARASSED AT WORK
A disproportionately high share of the injured employees are women, it is clear from CITUB information
Every fifth working person in Bulgaria is subjected to mental harassment by his manager or colleague.
Such cases have become more frequent in the last year, according to the data from signals for violations received in CITUB, announced the national secretary of the union Todor Kapitanov, quoted by the website of the Bulgarian National Radio.
The data show that a disproportionately high proportion of injured employees are women, and the largest number of complaints is in the age range 26-45 years.
"Insults, raising the tone, threats and the like are part of the daily life of 20% of workers in Bulgaria, as 70 percent are women, 30% are men. Most complaints are in the age range 26-45 years," said Kapitanov.
"It is really inexplicable how in the 21st century there are still leaders and colleagues who cross moral and legal boundaries by insulting and threatening their colleagues and subordinates. It should be clear that such actions are in violation of the Criminal Code and the Law on Protection against Discrimination, "he said.
The Criminal Code provides for sanctions for public insults. Workers must report to the employer and he must carry out an inspection immediately.
29.11.2021
LET'S PUT GENDER EQUALITY FIRST
This article is authored by Josep Borel, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Utah Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, and Svetlan Stoev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is supported by more than 30 foreign and international development ministers from EU member states. The text was reprinted by Dnevnik.
Rare are the situations in the world where the rights of women and girls are denied, as in Afghanistan. Recent developments are a matter of serious concern. The EU has made it clear that future EU development assistance to Afghanistan will depend on compliance with international human rights law and norms, including the rights of women and girls. The EU is committed and committed to continuing to support women and girls in Afghanistan and around the world, adhering to European values and beliefs.
Together with human rights, freedom and democracy, equality between men and women is one of the fundamental values that make the European Union what it is. It is a treasure for our societies and strengthens their resilience. Gender equality is at the heart of peace, security, economic prosperity and sustainable development. The protection and promotion of this basic principle is also enshrined in the EU Treaties.
That is why political, operational and financial work to promote and ensure progress in the field of gender equality is a political priority and a key objective for the EU. The EU Action Plan on Gender Equality 2021-2025 and the new EU External Action Budget provide a roadmap for global action and a world of equal opportunities. To achieve these goals, we work closely with multilateral, regional and bilateral partners, including civil society organizations. We have a long way to go and there is no room for complacency. However, together we are stronger, although many challenges still lie ahead.
In many countries, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated existing gender inequalities in various areas such as education, vocational training, health, security and safety, sexual and reproductive health and rights, participation in decision-making and economic opportunities.
Due to restrictions on the spread of COVID-19, there has been an increase in cases of violence against women, in particular domestic violence, and women's and girls' access to sexual and reproductive health services has been limited. At the same time, women and girls bear a significant part of the burden of caring for others. Those working in the informal economy and in low-skilled jobs (most of whom are women), migrants and persons belonging to minority groups are at greater risk and face numerous and mixed forms of discrimination.
In addition, school closures put girls at increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy, child labor and forced marriages. The Malala Fund estimates that another 20 million girls are at risk of dropping out of school this year, bringing the total number of girls with no prospects of education to 150 million, equivalent to a third of the EU population.
A recent UN report states that in 2020, military budgets still exceed global health spending, even in a year marked by a pandemic. For COVID-19 recovery to be sustainable, we must redouble our efforts to promote gender equality.
Now is the time to do more
This challenge requires a global response and must be overcome now that we are building the future after the pandemic. The future in which we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a more equal and diverse world, where equal opportunities are a reality. We need to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and gender-based discrimination in order to achieve lasting change.
During the pandemic, the European Union and its Member States, as well as European financial institutions, stood by women and girls around the world. Through Team Europe, we have already mobilized € 46 billion in support of more than 130 partner countries, with a focus on women and youth.
Examples of this are: in Nepal, we have helped one million girls and boys to continue their education by studying with the help of radio. In Togo, we supported the creation of a universal basic income scheme and the appointment of women to run new municipalities. Globally, the EU-UN Spotlight initiative has helped 650,000 women and girls avoid or deal with violence against them, and 880,000 men and boys have been trained on topics such as positive models of masculinity, non-violent conflict resolution and parenting.
However, greater and more effective action is needed to meet the growing challenges. This is the goal of the Action Plan on Gender Equality for the period 2021-2025 (GAP III). It promotes leadership and the full participation of women, girls and young people in political, economic, social and cultural life, as well as knowledge in the field of peace and security.
We are working for a new rise in human development
This plan is already being implemented with the help of the new Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe, worth € 79.5 billion, which will support the EU's external action over the next seven years.
Support for education, and in particular for girls' education, will play a central role. In the same way that it supports education in emergencies during a pandemic, the EU is working with partner countries to minimize its impact on children's education and well-being and to facilitate their safe return to school.
As Team Europe, we already provide more than half of global education aid. We will also increase funding to promote gender equality through quality education at all levels. Our joint commitment to transforming education for girls and boys in 90 countries and territories of € 1.7 billion for the Global Partnership for Education from July 2021 is part of this new beginning.
We are stepping up our efforts in all areas, from supporting the education and economic opportunities of women and girls to improving their access to sexual and reproductive health services. By 2025, 85% of new EU external action in all sectors will contribute to gender equality and women's empowerment.
This initiative is currently being finalized with partner countries on the basis of close consultations with civil society organizations, women's rights and youth activists.
We must resume the rise of human development and achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals without abandoning a single woman or girl.
It is crucial that we take the right action.
29.11.2021
RELIEFS ARE OFFERED FOR BULSTAT COMPANIES
The government is offering relief to companies with changes to the Tariff of State Fees collected by the Registry Agency, uploaded for public discussion.
They envisage the abolition of the fee for entering changes in the circumstances for issuing a new card for identification of the registered persons in the BULSTAT register.
They also eliminate the need to collect fees and to issue an original, copy or duplicate of an identification card.
Due to the publicity of the BULSAT register, the need to pay a fee for providing inquiries electronically from the information system of the register is eliminated, the petitioners from the Council of Ministers explain.
They add that the changes are necessary in order to bring in line with the changes in the BULSTAT Register Act, referring to the elimination of the requirement for issuance of identification cards to registered persons, as the information about them is public and free of charge, through the website of the register, as well as dropping the issuance of a card for certifying the code of the subjects of the BULSTAT register and its replacement with a certificate for last entered circumstances.
The adoption of the amendments to the Tariff will lead to a reduction of the administrative and financial burden on the subjects of the special register BULSTAT. The changes will take effect on January 4, 2022.
29.11.2021
WILL THERE BE A MINIMUM WAGE BALANCE IN EUROPE?
For more than 15 years, the European Union has been looking for ways to harmonize minimum wages in the Member States, trying to find a balance between protecting workers, respecting the principles of competition and social justice.
On Thursday (November 25th), the European Parliament gave the green light to start negotiations with the Council on a directive that will guarantee all workers in the EU a fair and adequate minimum wage (MW). The regulation is expected to be adopted in the second half of next year.
Finding a minimum wage that ensures a dignified life for the lowest paid members of society, without putting pressure on companies and provoking them to export jobs to other countries, has been the subject of heated debate since the minimum wage was first introduced in the world. - in New Zealand in the middle of the 19th century.
Gradually, the institute covers more and more categories of employees and expands geographically, and is currently in force in 21 of the 27 EU member states. Universal minimum wage is not provided for in the legislation of Italy, Denmark, Cyprus, Austria, Finland and Sweden, where wages are regulated by collective agreements.
The minimum monthly wage in the EU varies greatly - from 332 euros (650 levs) in Bulgaria to 2202 euros in Luxembourg and given the gradual deepening of integration and price dynamics, this huge difference provokes social discontent and political tension in both countries on both ends of the income scale. .
The issue of the minimum wage at European level is among the hottest in the current term of the European Parliament. Involving European and national institutions, employers' organizations, expert and civic groups, it has been further exacerbated by the severe economic and social crisis caused by the Kovid-19 pandemic.
The proposal for a directive was presented by the European Commission on 28 October 2020 and aims to ensure that "minimum wages are set at an adequate level and workers have access to protection guaranteed by the minimum wage in the form of a legal minimum wage or remuneration, determined in accordance with collective agreements ".
According to Art. 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, the possible determination of the minimum wage falls within the competence of the member states and therefore the planned directive does not set a minimum pan-European wage threshold, but rather principles to ensure fair and sufficient remuneration for workers in individual member states.
The reference value by which the adequacy of the minimum wage is assessed is the ratio of the minimum wage to the average wage of 50 per cent and respectively 60 per cent of the median wage.
In BULGARIA, CITUB representatives propose to increase the minimum wage to BGN 764 from January 1, 2022, through which our country will meet the reference value, exceeding the ratio of 50 percent of the average wage.
Among the EU member states, in addition to the size, there are significant differences in the regime of negotiation, determination and scope of the minimum wage.
THE GREAT ECONOMIES
GERMANY is among the countries that have relatively recently applied a single minimum wage - since the beginning of 2015. The single minimum wage was introduced after lengthy discussions that took over much of the campaign ahead of the country's 2013 parliamentary elections.
It was a major election promise of the German Social Democratic Party (GSDP), and was supported by the Greens and the Left. Opponents of the measure, especially from the conservative and right-wing political space, feared job losses and damage to businesses due to rising company costs and distortions of competition - worries that were not justified. The flat rate has replaced sectoral collective bargaining, but German unions continue to play an important role and periodically negotiate and enter into agreements with employers in individual industries for higher wages and better working conditions.
The determination of the amount of the minimum wage was entrusted to an independent commission, which in its decisions must balance between protecting workers, ensuring fair competition and employment, without interference for political reasons. When the minimum wage was introduced, it was EUR 8.50 per hour and gradually increased, as from January 1, 2022, according to the plans of the commission, it should have become EUR 9.82 per hour, and from July next year - EUR 10.45 per hour.
The coalition agreement of the "traffic light coalition", reached last week, set a minimum rate of 12 euros per hour, thus interfering in the sphere of activity of the commission in fulfillment of election promises. However, the coalition partners from the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (SDP) are adamant that this is a one-time increase at the political level and they do not intend to decide on the issue again in the future, returning it to the special commission. Following the increase, the monthly minimum wage in Germany will exceed the threshold of 2,000 euros for full-time employees.
The minimum wage in FRANCE is among the highest in the EU, it is guaranteed by law and employers are subject to criminal penalties if they do not comply with the requirements for its size. consumer prices and overall wage development in the country. Revaluation of the minimum wage is made on January 1 each year.
It applies to all types of remuneration of private sector employees, whether working time (hourly or monthly), productivity, assigned tasks or commissions, applicable in mainland France and the overseas territories.
In 2021, the monthly gross minimum wage in France is EUR 1,589.47 or EUR 1,258 net on the basis of the statutory 35-hour working week, or EUR 10.48 gross per hour. The annual minimum wage is EUR 19,073 gross or EUR 15,084 net.
Every year on January 1, the government re-evaluates the monthly interprofessional salary in accordance with the Labor Code, and a particularly important criterion is the inflationary pressure on the 20 percent of households with the lowest incomes.
On September 28, 2021, SPAIN announced an increase in the minimum wage to 965 euros. With this amount, which came into force retroactively on September 1, 2021, Spain is closer to other leading countries in Europe and the next goal is in 2023 to reach 60 percent of the average salary in the country, which was 2064.37 euros per month in the second quarter of 2021.
Authorities in Madrid took this path in 2019 with a sharp rise in the minimum wage - by 22.3 percent to 900 euros. In 2020 and 2021, its amount was set at 950 euros, to which an additional 15 euros were added in September. Despite the increase, the country did not climb the list of countries with the highest minimum wage and maintained its seventh position.
The calendar for the next increase in the minimum wage in Spain shows the different positions between the departments of the executive branch. While the Ministry of Labor, headed by Yolanda Diaz, is pushing for a new increase in January, other agencies are more restrained and leave the door open for a similar step later in 2022.
The minimum threshold of 965 euros was exceptionally agreed only with unions without the involvement of employers' organizations, after the minimum wage was frozen due to the economic shock caused by the pandemic.
The government has not yet initiated a debate and unions have not been invited to the negotiating table for the expected new increase next year. The labor ministry expects discussions to begin in December.
ITALY is one of the six EU members that do not have a single minimum wage, although in the last year there has been increasing discussion about setting the minimum level to the law, not just collective bargaining, as is currently the case. There are many proposals for regulating the minimum wage on the Apennine Peninsula, but so far none of them has been accepted or approved by the social partners.
In Italy, there are uniform minimum pensions, while the level of minimum wages is negotiated by sector. According to the National Council for Economics and Labor, 888 national collective agreements are currently in force.
Due to the lack of a law on the minimum wage in Italy, everything is based on collective bargaining, in which trade unions have enormous power, especially those with a larger number of members. In Italy, however, the collective agreement does not have to be applied in individual employment contracts and the consent of the trade unions is not required, so that each company can make a unilateral choice.
In this way, some employees risk being left without the protection of a collective agreement.
The minimum wages in some sectors are: tourism - 7.48 euros per hour; textile industry - EUR 7.09 per hour; social services - 6.68 euros per hour.
Italy also has a problem with the phenomenon of the "working poor", whose incomes are below the corresponding relative poverty line, as they are part-time, even though they are regularly employed. According to the latest report "Internal Poverty in the EU" in Italy, 11.7 percent of employees receive a salary that is below the agreed minimums.
For this reason, some political forces even before the European proposal called for the introduction of a minimum wage at national level. The aim is to overcome the scheme of collective agreements and to regulate the minimum threshold for agreements between individuals.
An interesting institute in Italy is the "civic income", which was introduced in 2019. It is an economic support to supplement family income, which is associated with reintegration into the labor market and social inclusion. Recipients of this income sign agreements committing them to start work as soon as possible and to join the social processes.
In the draft budget for 2022, the Italian government introduced some changes in civilian income. From 1 January 2022, it will be reduced by EUR 5 per month, starting with the first refusal of a job offer. The right to receive it is lost after the rejection of two job offers (currently the limit is three).
THE SCANDINAVIAN CHOICE
The Scandinavian countries stand out as a characteristic group not only by being at the top of the EU income scale, but mostly by the specific structure of their labor regulation. The EU member states of this group do not have a single legal minimum wage, but rely on agreement between the social partners. From these countries comes the strongest opposition to the directive proposed by Brussels, mainly due to fears of political interference in an issue that is considered social and labor in Scandinavian societies and is estimated to harm the autonomy of the social partners.
The model on which the labor markets of SWEDEN and DENMARK are built is characterized by a wide range of collective agreements, high wages and high levels of membership in trade unions and employers' organizations. The rate of syndication in this group of countries is among the highest in the world - in Denmark it reaches 67 percent, in Sweden - 66 percent, and in Finland - 65 percent.
It is proposed that the resistance of these countries be overcome by including in the directive an "option to negotiate through the social partners", which will allow Member States not to transpose the common requirements if they meet three requirements: they do not have a mandatory uniform minimum wage system, declaring collective agreements to be generally binding; the protection of minimum incomes is carried out exclusively through collective bargaining between autonomous social partners; and if the implementation of this option is requested jointly by the social partners in both the private and public sectors.
EASTERN EUROPE
Eastern European EU members are generally a diverse group, with large differences between them, although they are generally at the bottom of the minimum wage rankings. However, they are also the countries with the strongest growth of the indicator - a trend most pronounced in the Baltic States, which are enjoying not only some of the fastest economic growth rates in the world in the last 30 years, but also a stable recovery from shock of the coronary crisis.
LITHUANIA from January 1 next year will reach a minimum wage of 730 euros compared to only 238 euros in 2010 - according to the Ministry of Social Security and Labor, the increase of 88 euros compared to the current year is among the largest for the last decade. According to local labor legislation, the minimum can only be paid for unskilled labor. The social partners in ESTONIA last month agreed to increase the minimum wage to 654 euros next year or 3.68 euros per hour, which is 39.5 percent of the basic salary, according to estimates by the Estonian Central Bank for 2022, after last year's minimum wage was frozen due to the coronary crisis. In 2023, the ratio of the average wage is expected to rise to 40 percent, as it was in the year before the pandemic.
LATVIA in 2021 increased its minimum wage to 500 euros, after it was at the level of 430 euros from 2018. At the same time, the country supports its citizens with the lowest incomes through a tax-free minimum, which will increase from 300 euros this year to 350 euros in the first half of 2022 and 500 euros in the second half of the year, equaling in practice with the minimum salary.
In the region, CYPRUS is the only country without a fixed uniform minimum wage. Instead, minimum wages are negotiated each year in nine sectors where trade unionism and the scope of collective agreements are weak - salespeople, clerks, support staff, support staff (eg babysitters) in crèches, kindergartens and primary schools, security guards, carers and cleaners. For security guards and cleaners, the minimum rate is fixed on an hourly basis, and for other categories - on a monthly basis. For the lowest paid categories, a minimum wage of about 870 euros per month is formed.
