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The clergy and church employees in Bulgaria now have their first ever trade union. File photo
Bulgarian clerics and church employees have founded a trade union, which became a member of the National Labor Confederation "Podkrepa" (Support).
The news was announced by "Podkrepa" Monday, saying this is the first ever clergy trade union in the country and it joins an organization composed of 36 regional trade unions, 30 federations and national syndicates, and 4 associated organizations.
At the end of November, the clergy from the northern Vratsa Eparchy voiced outrage against the Bulgarian Holy Synod over not receiving salaries and benefits. The bank accounts of the Eparchy are blocked due to staggering debt and the Eparchy Council has been forced to sell church properties in order to meet the needs of the local clergy.
"Podkrepa" say in some eparchies high-ranking clerics demonstrate wealth such as expensive automobiles, while other priests receive less than the minimum wage in the country, and the discrepancy stirs lots of tensions among the above.
A proposed bill by the Ministry of Labor and Social Politics has sparked controversy by suggesting that the minimum wage in Bulgaria should only increase in line with inflation
The Bulgarian Holy Synod has expressed gratitude to the deputies for adopting the ban on promoting non-traditional sexual orientation in schools
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The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church convened on Tuesday to address the vacancy left by the passing of Patriarch Neophyte, who served as the spiritual leader of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church faces a period of transition following the untimely death of Patriarch Neophyte. In an extraordinary meeting convened by the Holy Synod today
KNSB and Confederation of Labor "Podkrepa" will celebrate Labor Day and international workers' solidarity with a series of different events
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Over the past five years, food vouchers in Bulgaria have lost nearly 45% of their purchasing power
More than 160 civil society organizations have sent an open letter to Bulgaria’s top government institutions, demanding immediate action to address the growing cases of animal cruelty
The weather on Saturday will be mostly sunny across Bulgaria, with light to moderate south-southeasterly winds
Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev stated that the municipality currently has no legal means to halt the construction of a 215-meter skyscraper near Paradise Mall
Enrique Iglesias will return to Bulgaria for an exclusive performance, marking his only concert in the Balkans this summer
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