BRATISLAVA, January 11, (WEBNOVINY) — Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said on Tuesday she cannot support one of the demands of trade unions, which is shortening of the current working week from 40 hours to 35 hours, which unions want to enact in a new Labor Code. Its preparation is underway, but trade unions have refused to take part in the process. In a petition calling for a referendum on prepared changes to the Labor Code, unions demand that a shorter working week but working five hours fewer should not reduce the weekly wage of an employee. The prime minister however thinks that this solution would be economically unsustainable. There exists a great probability, according to her, that the shorter working week would automatically result in a lower income from labor. “We will not take this risk”, argued the prime minister. The government is prepared for a dialogue with unions, said Radicova but not under pressure and threats. According to Radicova, works are still pending on the draft amendment to the Labor Code while trade unions say already now that it will not be all right. “I do not see an honest intention in it”, the prime minister stated.
She said further that she is in contact with the Trade Unions Confederation at the tripartite level. “I discuss with representatives of trade unions on a regular basis so that we would prepare a Labor Code that will guarantee both the protection of the employees‘ rights and suitable conditions for opening new jobs,” said Radicova. She drew attention to the fact that trade unions have signed an agreement on strategic cooperation with the opposition party SMER-SD. “They were invited to a working group for changes in the Labor Code, but they refused to participate”, said Radicova. According to her, the government will protect the interests of citizens so that they will not lose their income from labor by turning the Labor Code into a barrier to earning income from work and creation of jobs.
The petition the trade union launched on Monday calls for a referendum against changes to Slovakia’s Labor Code. In the referendum, people should say whether they support cutting working hours to 35 hours per week without a change of salary or setting of the maximum overtime work at eighty hours per year.
SITA
