Since June 29 the entire workforce at rousee Shipyards has been on strike because they haven't been paid for the past two months. But there would appear to be some progress in recent developments.

Half the salaries owed to employees of the Rousse Shipyards for April have now been wired. The management board has also proposed to unions, during negotiations conducted on June 30, that 50 per cent of the remaining debts be paid in bimonthly instalments until the balance is met in full, Dnevnik Daily has reported, quoting union leader Hristo Yordanov.

Union leaders and management met to discuss strategies aimed at resolving recurring grievances over delayed payments and workers' impatience. Meanwhile, journalists were not allowed to be present during those negotiations, as the conference once again had remained behind closed doors.

Regarding the unrest and the interminable financial dispute in the company, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva said on June 30 that the European Commission would soon decide to delay payment of the 19 million debt owed by the company to the Bulgarian state. The sum was accumulated before the company's privatisation.