2024-09-09 19:12:06
The lowest basic monthly remuneration of military personnel from January 1, 2025 will be from BGN 2,300 to BGN 2,370, stated the Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov in a written reply to the People’s Representative from GERB-SDS Hristo Gadjev, published in the information system on the Parliament website.
From January 1, 2025, the basis for determining the amount of the basic monthly remuneration for the lowest position will be determined each year based on the national average salary for the second quarter of the previous year, the parliament decided earlier this year. The basic monthly salary is increased by a factor compared to the base – for officers not less than 1.2, and for officer candidates, sergeants and soldiers – not less than 1.0.
According to data from the National Statistical Institute, the average salary for the country for the second quarter of 2024 amounts to BGN 2,296, Zapryanov points out in his answer.
The Acting Minister of Defense explains that estimates are being prepared in the Ministry of Defense, according to which, from 01.01.2025, the amounts of the basic monthly remuneration of military personnel, in accordance with the position held and the assigned military rank, will be:
for soldiers (sailors) — from BGN 2,300 to BGN 2,370, an average increase of 47%
for sergeants (sergeants) — from BGN 2,395 to BGN 2,485, an average increase of 45%.
for officer candidates – from BGN 2,520 to BGN 2,630, average increase – 40%
for junior officers from BGN 2,830 to BGN 2,950, average increase – 30%
for senior officers — from BGN 3,000 to BGN 4,050, an average increase of 27%.
for senior officers — from BGN 4,250 to BGN 6,700, an average increase of 27%.
The final amounts of the basic monthly remuneration for military personnel will be determined and announced in an act of the Minister of Defense after the promulgation of the Law on the State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria for 2025 and other normative documents by the Council of Ministers, Atanas Zapryanov also points out.
We are already thinking about the goal of defense spending being at a sustainable minimum over time, but at least 2.5%, our ambition is to aim for this level already with the next year’s budget, Atanas Zapryanov said last week.
Legally tying the minimum wage for servicemen to the average wage will lead to competitiveness in the labor market and ensure the armed forces have a highly motivated workforce, the minister said as parliament passed the changes. There is a gap in the armed forces for about 6,000 positions for servicemen. Therefore, the prevention of the increase in the shortage of personnel and the retention of service is a top priority given the amount of material, financial and time resources spent on the preparation of the personnel until reaching the necessary level for its full functional use, the minister also stated at the time.