Defense Ministry Cuts Civil Servant Positions Following Government Mandate
According to the Ministry of Defense, 830 civil servant positions held by individuals who have already acquired and exercised the right to a pension will be eliminated under a government-wide administrative reform. The Ministry of Defense stands out for cutting active staff rather than relying on vacant positions, as financial constraints require real personnel reductions. Official data shows that 330 of these contracts were already terminated effective September 1.
Comparison of Administrative Reductions Across Government Ministries
According to government reports, the Ministry of Defense has implemented deeper cuts than other departments by targeting active personnel. Financial Minister Гълъб Донев announced the removal of only 33 positions at the Ministry of Finance, noting that most were vacant for over six months, representing a 5.8% reduction. At the Ministry of Regional Development, Minister Иван Шишков eliminated 39 posts, accounting for about 6% of the staff. Prior to the defense cuts, the largest reduction came from Innovation Minister Иван Василев, who cut 120 slots during a ministerial merger.
Exemptions and Retention of Specialized Medical and Educational Staff
Government guidelines issued in May by Гълъб Донев exempted military personnel, police, special forces, teachers, and medical doctors from the 10% administration cuts. However, civilian staff within the defense sector did not receive this blanket exemption. Prior to September 1, the Ministry of Defense and the army employed 1,144 civilian pensioners over the age of 65, according to official records. The ministry retained 305 of these individuals due to specialized expertise, including 155 doctors, 76 nurses, 61 professors or associate professors, and 13 workers at state-run kindergartens.
Impact on Civilian Employees Including Cultural Figures
Civilian employees, including singers Орлин Горанов and Маргарита Хранова, were among those whose contracts with the National Guard Unit were terminated on September 1. Орлин Горанов stated that he received a two-month notice in June and holds no regrets, noting that emotions are tied only to his colleagues in the ensemble. Маргарита Хранова, who had been on staff since 2011 under supplementary schedules, expressed surprise that the cuts occurred in the middle of the year rather than at the natural expiration of her annual contract.
Did you know? The Ministry of Defense is the sole government department where unassigned job slots lack guaranteed funding, forcing the agency to cut occupied positions to meet the 10% administrative budget reduction target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are civilian employees at the Ministry of Defense being laid off?
According to the Ministry of Defense, the cuts comply with administrative reform instructions issued by financial authorities requiring a 10% reduction in administrative costs, with savings forced through real personnel cuts rather than vacant positions.
Who is exempt from the 10% administrative staff reduction?
According to announcements from May, active military personnel, police officers, special service agents, teachers, and doctors are exempt from the 10% staff reductions, though civilian personnel within those sectors face different rules.
How many pensioners will ultimately lose their positions?
The Ministry of Defense reports that a total of 830 pensioned employees will lose their jobs, with 330 contracts terminated on September 1 and the remaining 500 releases scheduled progressively through the following year.
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