[Bulgaria] Poverty Line for 2007 Determined

from Sofia News

Bulgaria's poverty line will be set at 152 leva in the beginning of 2007, Labour and Social Policies Deputy Minister Goran Bankov said.

The minimal wage will be determined in relation to the poverty line, said Bankov. Wages will also be calculated after negotiations between employers, union representatives and ministry officials, Focus news agency reported.

Yesterday the Labour and Social Policy Ministry re-examined the way in which the poverty line is determined. In April, the new methodology will be offered for Cabinet approval.

Bulgarian income policies have become inadequate after the acceptance of the currency board, Bankov said. In addition, nearly every sector is affected by grey economic activity, he said.

The education level indicator has also worsened and the percentage of illiterate people increased, Bankov said. These people are unable to join the labour market.