The Bulgarian labor inspectorate has fined the Greek company BGN 24 000 for the unpaid wages – a fine the company is appealing against.
The owner of Greek textile factory ‘Bulfanko of has stated that his company will not pay the striking Bulgarian workers in the Southern Bulgarian town of Kardzhali their unpaid wages.
150 workers from the ‘Bulfanko’ factory in Kardzhali went on a 1 hour strike on Monday over unpaid wages.
Asen Tyurdiev, the Deputy Head of the Kardzhali municipality, reported Tuesday that after a meeting between a representative of the owner, unions and municipality officials it had become clear that Bulfanko will not pay the wages, with the excuse that they have not received any aid from the Greek government in Athens.
The workers had warned the factory owners that if their unpaid wages for the last 4 months are not paid immediately they will go on a full strike. "We can not pay the bills, our families are starving," the protesters informed.
The workers have not been paid since October and were only paid 60% of their September wages on Christmas Eve – BGN 100-150. They have also not received their company meal vouchers for over 1 year and have insisted on a renewed collective work contract that expired in October 2009.
The Bulgarian labor inspectorate has fined the Greek company BGN 24 000 for the unpaid wages – a fine the company is appealing against.
