Background information

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) together with the fund 'Prof. Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov' operate a national charity campaign 'You are not alone' in support of working union members infected with the coronavirus.

The anticipated initial budget is BGN 100,000 (€50,000).

The resources are collected by donations made from several unions and organisations. Citizens and companies also have possibility to donate and support the programme.

Among others the supporting organisations are:

• The Federation of Trade Unions in Healthcare;
• The Trade Union of Bulgarian Teachers;
• The Independent Trade Union Federation of Power Engineers in Bulgaria;
• The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Light Industry;
• The National Trade Union Federation 'Metal-Electro',
• The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Miners,
• Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Government and Organisations,
• Union of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria.

Content of measure

The project provides material assistance in the form of products, medicines, medical devices and other essential goods.

Each member of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) , who has been infected with the novel coronavirus, will receive assistance in the amount of at least BGN 150 (€75). In complicated social situations the assistance can be extended.

In addition, the Federation of Healthcare Trade Unions, for example, plans to support each of its ill members with a grant of BGN 500 (€250).

The measure is motivated by solidarity and aims to prevent social hardship.

The programme is still open and members can contact the union.

Use of measure

As of September 2020, the campaign supported 230 COVID-19 patients with resources, goods and services in a total amount of BGN 57,000 (€27,000), or an average of nearly BGN 250 (€125) per person.

The affected workers come from 21 different districts, 35 settlements and 59 enterprises.

So far, the federation has paid BGN 29,750 (nearly €15,000) as social assistance for sick medics from Burgas, Dobrich, Kyustendil, Montana, Nova Zagora, Pazardzhik, Pleven, Smolyan, Yambol, Sofia and Blagoevgrad.

Up to 7 July 2021 the campaign has supported over 2,500 trade union members. The total amount of allocated resource is about BGN 350,000 (€179,000).

The number of supported trade union members has gone up. Up to 8 December 2021 there are almost 3,000 trade union members that benefited from the campaign. The amount of allocated resource is above BGN 375,000 (€192,000).

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)	Trade union Other

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Unknown
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

This measure has been designed and implemented by the trade unions.

Views and reactions

CITUB calls for solidarity and calls on all its members and structures to join the charity initiative.

Sources

• 23 September 2020: The campaign "You are not alone" lasts for five months, supported 230 patients with a total of BGN 57 thousand. (www.knsb-bg.org)
• 30 October 2020: CITUB launches national charity campaign "You are not alone" (www.knsb-bg.org)
• 09 July 2021: Кампанията “Не си сам” подкрепи над 2500 синдикални членове, изплатени са 350 хил. лв. (knsb-bg.org)
• 09 December 2021: Кампанията “Не си сам” подкрепи 3 хил. синдикални членове, изплатени са над 375 хил. лв. (knsb-bg.org)