9 April, 2009Workers continue their protests demanding the Bulgarian government to extend its support and commitment to the Kremikovtzi plant.
BULGARIA: Last week metalworkers of Bulgaria at the steel plant, Kremikovtzi, renewed massive protest rallies in a bid to attract the attention of the government to their deplorable situation and force the government to find a solution for its future.
The IMF-affiliated, Federation of Metallurgy - CL Podkrepa and Metalicy, representing workers of the plant accused the Bulgarian authorities of failing to act, and demanded the government pay out arrears in wages (since last November) to the Kremikovtzi workers as well as provide compensations to 2000 workers who will lose their jobs by the end of June.
The Executive Director of the Kremikovtzi plant, Plamen Stoyanov, denied earlier rumours about the Brazilian company CSN, the only bidder, supposedly not interested any more in the acquisition of the insolvent plant. However, unions are demanding from the government to render more active support and commitment in the search for a new buyer of the plant.
The state gas monopoly, Bulgargaz, announced earlier that it would stop the gas supply to the plant because of unpaid debts. Following the workers' rallies, the company declared it would delay the gas stoppage for another week.
The IMF fully supports our Bulgarian colleagues. In a letter sent to the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, the IMF demanded that the government "take all necessary measures to avert closure of the plant and ensure its normal operation for the benefit of the workers concerned, their families and the country as a whole."