Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva challenges 2026 labor budget changes

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva announced she will file a complaint with the Constitutional Court challenging two provisions of Bulgaria's 2026 State Budget law that affect labour rights. One provision changes the way seniority is recognised for part‑time (four‑hour) work, moving from a full‑year credit to a calculation based on actual hours worked, which could halve recognised seniority for many workers. The second abolishes the existing mechanism for setting the minimum wage; the new minimum will be €620.20 per month for an eight‑hour day from 1 January 2026, but the method for calculating it is unclear. Delcheva says the reforms could affect more than 300,000 citizens – including parents, people with disabilities, students and pensioners – and argues they were adopted through transitional and final budget provisions without an impact assessment or public debate, violating constitutional principles. She expects to submit the complaint by the end of the next working week.