Hundreds of prison workers from across Bulgaria have held a national protest in front the Justice Ministry in the capital Sofia.

In a peaceful demonstration, they have reiterated their calls for the old working conditions, which were recently changed, to be restored.

Higher salaries are also among a list of requests due to be discussed with interim Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov.

For a month, officers have protested symbolically against the new working hours, demanding to return to the old 24 hour shifts.

Despite the meetings between the prison officers union and the Justice Ministry representatives, an agreement was not reached, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) informs.

Negotiations are ongoing, the head of the Chief Directorate on the Execution of Penalties Rosen Zhelyazkov told BNR.

The protest of the prison workers union is expected to be joined by members of the Trade Union Federation of the Employees in the Ministry of Interior.