Vasil Velev: Raising the poverty line means that fewer people will fall under protection – Economy

The price of natural gas is very high compared to that of our competitors – in the USA it is 20-25 BGN, here it is 88, with a tendency to go towards 100. These are 4-5 times differences. Finally, we compete in the same markets. This will also affect the price of electricity as the markets are linked. There is compensation and there should be for next year, the scheme can be improved a little – over 180 – 80% This was stated in the program “Offensive” on Nova News, the chairman of AIKB Vasil Velev.

“More than half of the enterprises provide Christmas bonuses. Raising the poverty line means that fewer people will fall under protection. The minimum wage of BGN 933 is BGN 1,200 gross, this means that many mothers in their second year of motherhood will receive more than if they work. Why then rush back to work and have a career? Birth rates are not affected by an increase in maternity leave. This is how mothers are deskilled. The maximum insurance income should be a function of the average. It is a limiter of the maximum pension. A spreading populism has taken over the calculation of the minimum wage,” he believes.

According to him, the increase in pensions should be according to the Swiss rule – half of inflation and of the growth of the average insurance income. “The minimum wage in some economic activities will be above the average social security income. It should be negotiated and different. The maximum social security income should be fixed at BGN 3,500. Growth should be 8%. Taxes should be neutral, for not to make social policy with taxes. We are for proportional taxes for everyone,” Velev pointed out.

According to him, the increase in the price of natural gas will also affect that of electricity. “The liberalization of the retail market is the right decision. All at normal prices, and lower prices – only for the energy poor,” he commented.