FTTU presented its position in the Transport Committee at the National Assembly

The Chairman of FTTU, Eng. Alexander Shopov, participated in a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, where he presented the position of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions at CITUB regarding the new draft Law on Public Transport.

During the session, FTTU expressed serious concerns about several weaknesses in the draft law, which could directly impact workers in the sector, the development of municipal transport enterprises, and the sustainability of the public transport system.

Among the main issues pointed out by the trade union is the lack of real involvement of social partners in the drafting of the law. The project was developed without timely consultations with trade union organizations and without expert discussions within the sectoral format of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, even though it affects labor conditions and employment for thousands of workers in the sector.

FTTU also emphasized the lack of social criteria in the awarding of public services, which creates a risk of public procurement being won through lower labor costs. According to the union, the law should include requirements for minimum labor standards, the presence of collective labor agreements, and social criteria in public procurements.

Special attention was paid to the risks to the future of municipal transport enterprises. In its current form, the draft law places the mechanism for awarding services to an internal operator (in-house) in a less favorable position compared to procedures under the Public Procurement Act and the Concessions Act, which could lead to the restriction of municipal autonomy and gradual displacement of municipal operators.

The Federation also raised the issue of risks from the emergence of unregulated platform models in so-called on-demand transport, as well as the lack of clear guarantees that these services can be carried out by municipal operators.

In its position, FTTU draws attention to the lack of a concept for transport poverty, which means that the draft law does not provide sufficient measures to ensure access to transport for vulnerable groups and for localities with limited transport connectivity.

Among the other problems pointed out by the union are the excessive centralization of system management, insufficient mechanisms for public control over the spending of public funds, and the transfer of numerous key issues to future regulations.

FTTU emphasized that public transport is a service of general economic interest and the future law must ensure a balance between economic efficiency, social protection of workers, and citizens' access to quality transport.

The Federation will submit specific written proposals for changes to the draft law between the first and second readings and expects Members of Parliament to take into account the position of the unions and the interests of workers in the sector.