Agricultural Syndicates Support ODBH – Pazardzhik Over Pressure and Aggression Toward Employees

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Agriculture and the Sectoral Trade Union Council to the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BABH) in Pazardzhik issued a public position in support of the agency's employees in Pazardzhik. According to them, the latest signals describe prolonged pressure, insults, threats and aggressive behavior in connection with the performance of official duties. The position lacks specifics, but it is presumed that the situation is linked to the case involving the herd of the local livestock farmer Georgi Iliev, known as Bai Riban.

According to data from BABH – Pazardzhik, tension in recent days has led to disruptions in normal working processes and to the need for police presence. The agricultural unions within the ministry emphasize that any form of violence, threat, harassment or demeaning treatment of an employee is unacceptable.

“As a union organization, the Federation emphasizes that the protection of workers' rights includes not only salaries and the conditions under collective labor agreements, but also the right to a secure, decent and protected working environment,” said the union. BABH employees perform control functions to protect public health, animal health, food safety and the food chain. Some of them work in the field and frequently encounter complex conflicts. The organization stresses that differing opinions do not justify aggression and that threats, harassment, and attempts to hinder work cannot be accepted as part of the working process.

The position lists specific demands to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the leadership of BABH and the Ministry of Interior. The Federation insists on timely and adequate reaction, on subsequent actions based on employees' signals, and on the establishment of clear mechanisms for prevention and protection in cases of aggression, threats and violence against BABH employees.

The union expresses solidarity not only with colleagues from ODBH – Pazardzhik but also with all agency employees, as well as with those working in control bodies and state administrations who enforce the law, protect the public interest, and often endure tension, pressure and aggression because of their work.

Source: marica.bg