Bulgaria implements 10% personnel cost reduction in state administration

The Bulgarian government has initiated a plan to reduce personnel costs by 10%, resulting in the cutting of approximately 500 state positions. While some agencies are managing these reductions through the elimination of vacant roles, others face significant structural changes.

The General Labour Inspectorate and the Public Procurement Agency are reducing staff primarily by closing unfilled positions and redistributing financial control duties internally. However, more substantial changes are planned for the Ministry of Environment and Water, where the 15 existing regional inspections are proposed to be consolidated into just four structures based on planning regions. This move has raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of environmental and water protection oversight.

The healthcare sector is also heavily impacted, with 440 positions being cut. Notably, 200 positions are being removed from emergency medical assistance centers, a move that may exacerbate existing chronic staffing shortages in the field.