Job fears over factory shutdown

Trade unions representing Bulgaria’s tobacco-industry employees have demanded the resignation of Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski because of what they describe as his ‘passive’ behaviour in the face of recent developments at Bulgartabac, according to a Novinite.com story.

In an open letter, the unions allege that his inaction led to the closure on April 1 of a tobacco plant in Sofia that has left 420 people jobless.

The closure stemmed from a decision by Bulgartabac to halt from April 1 exports of cigarettes and other products to the Middle East.

The decision is said to have put in jeopardy also the livelihoods of tens of thousands of tobacco growers in Bulgaria since the Middle East constituted a key market for the company.

According to the Novinite story, Bulgartabac said, presumably by way of explanation for its actions, that it had become the target of allegations that it had been smuggling cigarettes into Turkey.