For the next budget, one of the priorities will be to increase the funds for the second year of maternity care, as well as finding a way to incentivise mothers to return to work. This is what Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov told journalists.
He specified that for now the amount of the benefit for the second year of maternity remains BGN 780, but in the budget update or in the next budget framework, opportunities for its increase will be sought. According to the minister, if the amount of the benefit is increased, for example to the level of the minimum wage, this will motivate more mothers to return to work earlier.
“These are issues that need to be discussed among all political parties. Dialogue is the key word”, Gutsanov stressed, saying the BSP would defend this priority.
The social minister expressed confidence that the state budget, as well as the budgets of the State Social Insurance Fund (SSI) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), would be adopted by parliament. At an extraordinary meeting on Monday, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Law on the State Budget of Bulgaria for 2025, along with the draft budgets of the Social Insurance Institution and the National Health Insurance Fund. The proposals were then submitted to parliament for consideration.
“We managed to meet the main priorities – first of all, not to increase taxes and levies”, Gutsanov said. He noticed this was a success because the financial situation of the budget, which had been „welded“, was „quite severe“. The minister stressed:
“None of the social services were reduced – this was my priority.”
Gutsanov recalled that the Swiss rule for updating pensions is maintained, and pensions will be increased by 8.6 percent from July 1, 2025.
Regarding the minimum wage, the minister said that at this stage no change in the formula for its determination is being considered. During the event, Borislav Gutsanov opened a bazaar where martenitsas made in social enterprises and centres were presented.
The budget debate is expected to continue in parliament and the issue of increasing the second year maternity benefit will be a key issue in the government’s social policy.
