Hello friends,

Now we know you quite better on the base of the translated and distributed summaries from your reports.

We have discussed that our participants are good informed what is happened in our country, in Europe and all over the world. Out troubles are more connected with the forms of influence over the often changed governments in Bulgaria, the new legislation and its harmonisation with the European standards, the new forms of ownership etc. during the transition to market economy.

I have been asked to inform a little bit more all ISC participants about the trade union situation in Bulgaria (answering the questions of SWE 3 sent by Ake).

The level of the trade unionisation in the country is about 55 %. There are two big trade union head-quarters - KNSB (Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria) and Confederation of Labour "Podkrepa" that are acknowledged as representative by the government since 1993. KNSB declares about 850 000 members and "Podkrepa" - about 250 000.

Both confederations are affiliated to ICFTU and ETUC and since 1995 they began to draw closer their positions after overcoming the confrontation. The beginning of this process was put forward by the signing of a common declaration for joint actions in April 1995. Since then many joint projects and programmes have been accomplished, joint statements during the negotiations with government have been prepared, permanent consultations have been held.

Since 1996, one more trade union has been permitted - OSSOB and since 1997 other four new trade unions: NPS "Promiana", ADS, GCBS and NP "Edinstvo".

These trade unions are not numerous - each of them having 50 000 members -and as a rule they are connected with certain political parties.

Concerning the Strategies to protect workers' rights in transnational corporations

We have discussed all materials which have been recommended plus several articles translated for the First ISC pilot.

The opinion of the Bulgarian members is:

We really need regularly information and the codes of conduct are good frame how to represent and to protect the workers' rights in transnational corporations. Different parts of them could be used but according to the specific conditions.

Our problems are on the base of shortage of information connected with the privatisation contracts. We insist that the workers are not only a part of the transaction but a party in it. Concerning the foreign investors the state has to allow that the interested parties are contacting directly with the investor before the sale of the enterprises and to clarify the conditions which could be agreed after the privatisation.

The ICFTU model code reflects adequately the workers needs and demands and we would prepare similar one but it is important to make it working and to be enough strong to control its implementation. All recommended articles have been translated and distributed for the next meeting on May 11, 1998.