The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) held a remote meeting convened by Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Minister of Finance Asen Vassilev.
In the first item on the agenda, the NCTC discussed the draft Law on the Budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2022. The bill was presented by the manager of the National Health Insurance Fund. The Minister of Health, Asena Serbezova, took part in the discussion.
The funds for health insurance payments amount to BGN 5 678 270.1 thousand, which is an increase of BGN 560 210.7 thousand compared to the Budget Act of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2021.
The set parameters of the draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2022 create a stable financial framework for the functioning of the health insurance system in the conditions of continuing emergency epidemic situation.
In the second item on the agenda, the NCTC considered the draft Law on the State Social Security Budget for 2022, the bill was presented by the NSSI Governor. The Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Georgi Gyokov, took part in the discussion with an opinion.
The project envisages that from April 1 the maximum insurance income for all insured persons will increase from BGN 3000 to BGN 3400. The minimum insurance income for self-insured persons will be increased from BGN 650 to BGN 710, as well as for farmers and tobacco producers from BGN 420 to BGN 710.
In the third item on the agenda of the NCTC meeting, the government and the social partners discussed the draft Law on the State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria for 2022 and the Updated Medium-Term Budget Forecast for the period 2022-2024 as reasons for it. The bill was presented by Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Minister of Finance Asen Vassilev.
Among the priorities of Budget 2022 are income, social, healthcare and education policies.
Following the discussions, the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation did not achieve unanimous support on the draft budget laws. The social partners expressed the following positions:
BICA and UPEE support the draft Law on the Budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2022, BCCI and KRIB generally support, but with notes; BIA, CITUB and LC "Podkrepa" - refrain from support.
Under the draft Law on the State Social Security Budget for 2022, LC “Podkrepa” and the UPEE support with notes, the BCCI generally supports - also with notes; BIA and CITUB - refrain from full support, BICA and KRIB do not support.
Regardless of the existence of certain positive measures that are provided, BIA expresses reservations to the draft Law on the State Budget for 2022 and the reasons for it.
