Bulgarian Parliament Rejects Proposal to Raise Maternity Pay to 100%

The Bulgarian parliament voted down a bill introduced by the "Continue the Change" (PP) alliance that sought to increase maternity‑leave compensation from the current 50% to 100% for mothers who return to work before the end of their two‑year leave. The proposal was supported by 70 deputies from GERB‑SDS, DPS, Democratic Bulgaria, PP, Revival and one member of Progressive Bulgaria, while a single Progressive Bulgaria MP voted against it and 118 Progressive Bulgaria deputies abstained, leading to its rejection on first reading.

Under existing rules, women receive 50% of their insured income (about €398.81 per month) in the second year of maternity leave. The governing coalition said it will consider raising the compensation to 75% in the 2027 budget, arguing fiscal constraints and the need to balance the state budget. Both sides exchanged accusations of political hypocrisy and promises to address the issue in future legislation.