Bulgaria’s employers’ organization, the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AIKB), has taken a firm stance against the current practice of extending public holidays when they fall on weekends, arguing that the system generates significant economic losses and should be reconsidered.
According to the group, Bulgaria will observe 12 official public holidays in 2026, all of which are non-working by law. In addition, three more non-working days are expected to be added because May 25, September 7, and December 28 fall on Sundays. Employers say this effectively reduces overall working time and lowers total economic output.
AIKB estimates that each additional non-working day costs the economy between 90 million and 120 million euros. These figures are described as indicative, based on national GDP output distributed across roughly 250 working days per year.
Executive director Dobrin Ivanov, speaking to BNR, said the calculations were approximate but still illustrated the broader impact of reduced labor time on production. He argued that Bulgaria should abandon the policy introduced in 2017, which compensated public holidays that fell on weekends with extra days off. In his view, this approach has long-term consequences for economic performance.
The organization also addressed the proposal to make April 20 an official holiday, linked to the April Uprising. While acknowledging its historical importance, employers warned against increasing the number of non-working days. As they put it, “a choice should not be made between historical memory and economic development,” adding that higher incomes depend on productivity rather than fewer working days.
AIKB also pointed out that Bulgaria is expected to have around five fewer working days in 2026 compared to previous years, roughly equivalent to one full working week. At the same time, the country’s labor productivity remains significantly lower than in Western Europe, with estimates suggesting a Bulgarian worker produces around four times less value than a German worker over the same period.
While recognizing that extended holidays can benefit tourism, the organization stressed that the sector accounts for about 8% of Bulgaria’s GDP. By contrast, industry represents approximately 27-28%, which employers argue makes the impact of additional non-working days more significant for the overall economy.
A similar legislative proposal had previously been introduced by the Democratic Bulgaria (DSB) party in the former National Assembly. It suggested removing the practice of compensatory Mondays off when holidays fall on weekends, citing concerns over budget deficits and public spending. However, the proposal was rejected during discussions in the tripartite format, leaving the current system unchanged. (Novinite)