Bulgaria's Labor Minister: Hike in Maternity Benefits Will Not Boost Birth Rate

Deyana Kostadinova, caretaker Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Policy, has argued that no increase in maternity benefits will boost Bulgaria's birthrate.

In a Saturday interview for Darik radio, she admitted that maternity benefits In Bulgaria were very low but suggested that they were received for a very long period of time.

Kostadinova emphasized that a two-year withdrawal from the labor market during the maternity leave would entail deskilling.

She was adamant that the caretaker government would not take risks such as withdrawing a loan.

Bulgaria's caretaker Labor Minister made clear that pensions would go up by an average 9.3% from April 1, as stipulated in the budget.

She said that the efforts were focused on defining the most vulnerable social groups.

Kostadinova explained that there were reserves which could be used to help people on a low income, adding that the exact amount of the assistance and the criteria for receiving it would be specified next week.

She claimed that the money required to support low-income individuals and families could be provided from the existing budgets of the ministries without resorting to staff cuts or deducting from sums earmarked for payments to the business sector.

Kostadinova also said that the caretaker government would start work next week on the preparation of a mechanism for calculating the minimum monthly wage, adding that the lack of such methodology created insecurity.