Bulgarian Trade Union Confederation Urges Ombudsman to Refer Minimum Wage Bill to Constitutional Court

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KNSB) sent a letter to Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva asking her to ask the Constitutional Court to review sections 11, 12 and 44 of the draft State Budget Law for 2026. The provisions in question would alter the mechanism for setting the minimum wage (MZW) and change how labor tenure is calculated and recognised.

KNSB argues that the changes constitute an attempt to make "fundamental changes in labour legislation" that are not within the scope of a budget law and would undermine constitutional guarantees, the rule of law and the role of social partners. The union cites a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling that material laws cannot be permanently altered through budget legislation unless directly tied to budget execution. The draft was debated in parliament, with final texts voted on after the fourth reading.