The new budget of the State Social Insurance was adopted in the first reading. 118 deputies from GERB-SDS and PP-DB voted in support of the bill, 34 MPs from BSP and “Ima Talik Narod” voted against, and 64 from DPS and “Vazrazhdane” abstained.
The majority in the National Assembly supported the government’s estimates, the budget of DOO for 2023 in the first reading.
It provides for higher pensions by 12 percent from July 1, updated according to the so-called Swiss rule. The amount of the insurance contribution and the maximum amount of pensions in the amount of BGN 3,400 is maintained.
It is planned that the compensation for the second year of maternity will equal the minimum wage in the amount of BGN 780 from August 1. All other benefits remain at last year’s levels.
The BSP contested the budget and called it “anti-social”, pointing out that welfare payments remain at 2022 levels amid rising inflation this year.
The DPS, on the other hand, objected to the planned increase of the minimum insurance income for self-insured persons and registered farmers and tobacco producers from BGN 710 to BGN 780.
GERB criticized the approach of using taxes to cover pension costs. Parliamentary groups submitted requests for amendments between the two readings of the DOO budget bill. In front of the deputies, Social Affairs Minister Ivanka Shalapatova emphasized that the proposed bill is realistic.
“The draft law aims, first of all, to increase the insurance protection of insured persons and improve the adequacy of pensions. The proposed bill presents a realistic framework for financing VET in 2023 that does not introduce additional risks and elements of uncertainty over the medium and long-term fiscal prospects of the country.”
Deputies continued the draft budget of the NHIF for this year.
