19.09.2023
An agreement on just transition will be drawn up and signed by the government with the trade unions by the end of September. The document will reflect the agreement of the cabinet and the social partners regarding the prospects for the coalmining regions.
The focus of the agreement will be the demand of the unions that an operator be institutionalized for the conversion of the coalmining regions, the purpose of which is to prepare these regions for the development of new economic operations. This will give more confidence to people that they will not become unemployed and that there will be another opportunity for them, along with the development of an industrial park, where major investment is expected. Funding is planned to be provided through the Just Transition Fund. The Ministry of Energy is already working on a concept to institutionalize the operator, which is expected to be ready by mid-October and to be consulted with the European Commission.
The drawing up of a master plan for the Maritsa Mines is also among the items that the unions demand to be included in the agreement. The government is already working on the drawing up of the plan.
The dialogue with the social partners helps us produce quality documents that are considerate of the people, said Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov after the meeting with a group of delegates of the protesting miners and energy workers, led by the President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria Plamen Dimitrov and the President of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labor Dimitar Manolov. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that it is the cabinet's dialogue with the social partners that is key to regaining the people's trust, which was lost over the years due to the failure to meet commitments and promises made.
For the media, the unions also announced that they will approach the Parliament so as to be given guarantees for the implementation of the agreement.
