After a meeting labour union representatives, Prime Minster Sergei Stanishev said that he will suggest negotiations over higher wages in Bulgaria.

Stanishev met union members together with Labour and Social Policy Minister Emilia Maslarova, Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski and Disaster Management Minister Emel Etem.

Salary increase can be implemented after experts evaluate inflation, labour productiveness, company competitiveness and taxation law changes implemented in 2007.

The expectations of people concerning income policies were high and standards of living remained low in comparison to the levels in other EU countries, Stanishev said.

At the same time labour productiveness is lower as well, Stanishev said. To guarantee high salaries, Bulgaria needs stable and competitive economy and high production rate.

Stanishev said that 2006 was successful in terms of economic development. The country saw economic growth exceeding six per cent and direct foreign investment of 4.1 billion euro.

GDP growth in the beginning of 2007 is also satisfactory but the high current account deficit is worryingly growing, Stanishev said. It featured among the factors that need to be taken into consideration when determining salary increase, he said.