Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Trade unions in Bulgaria expect a jump in gray economy due to Covid-19

Photo: Archive

The gray economy in Bulgaria in 2019 accounted for 21% of the country's GDP, data from the National Statistical Institute reveals. It amounts to 11.5 billion euros. This money is outside the social and health care system. In the conditions of a Covid-19 pandemic, this share is expected to grow, said the leader of the CITUB trade union Plamen Dimitrov on the occasion of the Week of Action in the European Campaign for Declared Labour.

Bulgaria's state budget loses 200m euros a year from undeclared work. Dimitrov noted that it also exists in the light economy. Employees have employment contracts and social security payments, but work extra hours that are not paid by the employer. "Whoever works in the gray sector, cuts his or her own rights," the unions warn, BGNES reports.



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

Danube Bridge connecting Bulgaria and Romania to be closed twice for 12 hours in March

The repairs to the Danube Bridge, connecting Bulgaria and Romania, have been partially halted , BNT reported. This was necessary due to the low temperatures in recent days in Ruse and the entire country.  It is expected that the repairs to the Danube..

published on 2/22/25 3:56 PM
Ski track in Valchi dol

The ski season has opened on the only track in Bulgaria's Varna region

The snow in Northeastern Bulgaria has made skiing possible at the end of February. Today, the ski season opened in Valchi Dol, where the only track in Varna Region is located. It is only 250 meters long, but the locals use it with pleasure, BNT..

published on 2/22/25 11:45 AM
Ramadan Atalay, MP from DPS-DPS

The biggest danger to the government will come from Ahmed Dogan, believe members of SDS party

DPS-DPS around Ahmed Dogan wants to have its own deputy ministers, regional and deputy regional governors, as well as representatives in the regulators, in order to take political responsibility. This was stated to BNT by the party's MP Ramadan Atalay...

published on 2/22/25 11:08 AM