BULGARIA GRANTS 'NATIONAL' STATUS TO BIA

Bulgaria has recognized as "nationally represented" two trade unions and five employer organizations active in the country, the government's press office has said.

The statusр which is granted and reassessed every four years, gives the respective organization negotiation rights when it comes to labor and social policy legislation through the tripartite council that brings together government officials with businesses or unions, or the so-called National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC).

Businesses can be nationally represented by the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (BICA), the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (known by its Bulgarian acronym KRIB), and the Union of for Private Economic Enterprise (UPEE).

With its Wednesday decision, the government has also denied "national" status to Business Union Vuzrazdane ("Revival") for failing to show through documents it brings together at least 1500 businesses employing 50 000 or more people.

The unions are the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), and KT Podkrepa.

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The Bulgarian Industrial Association – Union of the Bulgarian Business is a non-governmental organization founded on 25 April 1980.

BIA is a nationally recognized organization of employers and participates with its representatives in the operation of all national consultative councils, supervisory and managing bodies of state public institutions.