Germany Raises Minimum Wage to €12.82 and Mini-Job Salary Threshold as of January 1, 2025
From January 1, 2025, Germany has introduced two important updates that will benefit students and job seekers
The government foresees increasing the minimum wage from BGN 460 to BGN 510 as of January 1, 2018, to BGN 560 as of January 1, 2019 and to BGN 610 as of January 1, 2020. This is part of the mid-term budget forecast for 2018-2020, the Finance Ministry said.
Key targets remain fiscal stability, removing macroeconomic unbalances and conducting consistent, transparent and foreseeable fiscal policy to improve business environment, encourage investments and stimulate labour market for achieving economic growth and employment.
Deficit in the consolidated fiscal programme for 2018 and 2019 remains, respectively, 1% and 0.5% of GDP.
For 2020, the government plans a balanced budget. Revenue is expected to stand at 36.5-36.6% of GDP, while financing of public expenditure policies will range from 37.5% of GDP in 2018 to 36.5% of GDP in 2020. The government does not plan significant tax changes.
Considering net debt financing in 2018-2020, debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decrease to 22.3% by the end of the period, mainly due to repayment of outstanding debt.
Economists have urged Bulgaria’s leadership to submit an application to the European Commission and the European Central Bank for an extraordinary convergence report on joining the eurozone
Representatives of Bulgaria’s ruling coalition have once again highlighted a significant deficit in the state budget, with Stanislav Balabanov from "There Is Such a People" (TISP) stating that 2025 will be a transitional year regarding the eurozone
Valeri Belchev, former acting Minister of Finance, recently expressed strong concerns about Bulgaria's financial management, particularly focusing on the lack of proper budget management tools
Kalin Hristov, former deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank and former finance minister, expressed concern over the public discourse on key economic issues
A recent survey conducted by the "Myara" sociological agency reveals significant skepticism among Bulgarians regarding the adoption of the euro
Economist Nikola Yankov, a former deputy minister of economy in Bulgaria and currently leading the economic team of the "Blue Bulgaria" party, expressed on BNR concerns about the current political and economic direction in the country
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