Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

On poverty and acquiescence of Bulgaria’s retired people

БНР Новини
Photo: BGNES

Being a retired person has meant poverty and negligence for a long time. The average Bulgarian pensioner receives some EUR 170 per month which means inequality, compared even to people from neighboring non-EU member-states.

The retirement age most often starts with the sad news of a very low pension instead of the well-deserved rest. Only best qualified and well-prepared experts may keep their positions after retirement. The others can only opt for low hourly rates in the sphere of production and services.

The forecast of the National Social Security Institute says that the number of retired people will be a bit less than 2.2 mln. persons with expectations to decline. This is due to the gradual increase by two months of the age and length of service necessary for retirement. Thus as of 1 January 2017 men in Bulgaria retire at the age of 64 with 38 years of service and women – at 61 with 35 years of service. As of July 1 their pensions will be increased by 2.4%.

This slight growth hasn’t brought much happiness to retired people. ‘Even in neighboring Macedonia with GDP twofold lower the pensions are bigger,’ says Gancho Popov, chair of a retirement organization in Sofia.

“The minimum pension of EUR 133 that several hundred thousands of Bulgarians have to live on is not enough for food, or medicines, to say nothing on travels. It is not only a living torture, it reflects the cynical attitude of those in charge, as no commission can be taken from the solving of this problem which makes it not interesting. We need pressure; someone has to take those people out in the streets. The trade unions don’t defend retired people and those hungry people don’t have the strength to protest anymore. In the absence of clear rules we need at least some morality shown by those in charge.”

Evgenia Bozhiyanova has been retired for 21 years and still wouldn’t stop looking for a job, in order to avoid being a burden to her children and grandchildren:

“I looked for a job for years after my retirement. People thought that I was outdated, good for nothing. I felt like into a swamp, sinking and that often affected by mind. Nobody thinks he or she might get into the same situation one day – everybody thinks of here and now, paying no attention to the future. Even our education now doesn’t work and back in the days we were trying to study all the time and be more prepared.”


English version: Zhivko Stanchev 




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Knitting enthusiasts unite in a community to preserve the traditional craft

The making of knitted products is a traditional craft that deserves a revival and a new life, believes Alexandrina Pandurska, known for her numerous initiatives to popularize cultural and historical places in the Blagoevgrad region. According to her..

published on 12/22/24 9:05 AM

Residents of village of Zmeyovo celebrate pelin wine whose recipe they jealously guard

The village of Zmeyovo near the town of Stara Zagora is celebrating today, December 21, its traditional Festival of Pelin Wine. According to an old Bulgarian custom, guests will be welcomed with bread and salt on the square in front of the..

published on 12/21/24 9:25 AM

Christmas tales made of glass, or how a forgotten tradition is revived

Each piece evokes warmth and nostalgia because each is handmade and unique. The silvery reflections on the glass baubles take us back to childhood, when winters were harsh and snow-white and Christmas decorations were made of wafer-thin glass . Nowadays,..

published on 12/21/24 8:10 AM