Fundamental rights related to social partners

Social dialogue in Bulgaria was developing positively and was generally very good according to social partners; 80% of organised civil society was represented at the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council. However, the rate of unionisation was decreasing, with trade union density below 20%. Furthermore, a wide range of impediments to union membership existed in Bulgaria; for example, army and police trade unions could not join the national confederations of unions, and public-servant trade unions were not permitted to negotiate their salaries.

The Bulgarian Constitution protected freedom of association. However, Bulgarian law did not provide any specific legal or administrative guarantees enabling workers to exercise this freedom. Moreover, Bulgarian workers were not always aware of their rights and the authorities did not organise awareness-raising campaigns.