The current state of Bulgarian Posts requires sustained efforts to make more efficient use of resources, introduce new technologies and improve working conditions. This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev following an unannounced visit to the Bulgarian Exchange and Sorting Centre in Sofia. It is the largest distribution centre of Bulgarian Posts. The Minister met with employees, familiarised himself with the centre’s operations and visited the post office in the Chelopechene District.
“The company has good equipment that is not being used efficiently. The employees are excellent professionals, and I had the opportunity to speak with them. What is clear is that they are demotivated because of low pay and a lack of stability. Employees are working under conditions that I consider unacceptable. Tasks are being carried out manually even though, in the 21st century, technology can provide considerable assistance,” the Minister said. He stressed that the company must make additional efforts to attract customers and generate its own revenue.
“Bulgarian Posts owns thousands of properties that are not being managed efficiently, and some of them could be leased out. The answer cannot always simply be that the subsidy needs to be increased,” Georgi Peev added.
During the meeting with employees at the Exchange and Sorting Centre, specific measures to improve operations were discussed. Among the solutions proposed by the employees were the introduction of POS terminals at post offices and the use of more modern barcode scanners. They also raised the need to ensure adequate staffing levels and increase remuneration.
An employee at the post office in the Chelopechene District explained that the local post office is important not only as a place for receiving and sending postal items, but also as a centre for social interaction. She noted that the schedules for the early payment of pensions had already been prepared. In addition to providing pension-related services, the post office also serves numerous businesses in the area that send and receive traditional correspondence – letters.
The unannounced visits to the Exchange and Sorting Centre and the post office in the Chelopechene District are part of preparations for specific measures aimed at improving efficiency, modernising operations and enhancing the quality of services.
