BRATISLAVA, February 14, (WEBNOVINY) — Employers clustered in the National Association of Employers (RUZ) consider proposals of the Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) regarding the Labor Code unrealistic and having harmful affects on the local labor market. Employers believe that Slovakia, which is currently tackling almost 15-percent unemployment, needs more flexible legislation than the present one, which hampers creation of new jobs. If proposals tabled by KOZ are approved, they would lead to wage cuts and deepen the crisis on the labor market. RUZ warns that KOZ representatives repeatedly promote the thesis that the Labor Code does not stand in the way to formation of new jobs and that no revision is thus necessary. “On that account RUZ called on trade unionists to present a study that would confirm the thesis on the Labor Code’s zero affect on employment growth,“ said RUZ secretary Martin Histak. He also said that RUZ repeatedly warned KOZ representatives that practice in Slovakia and abroad expressly proved substantial impact of the labor legislation on employers‘ willingness to create new jobs.
RUZ also has serious objections to trade unionists’ referendum against planned changes in the Labor Code. Employers consider proposed referendum issues populist and with negative influence on employees. “In France, for example, employers launched mass layoffs after trade unionists pushed through a 35-hour working week in 2000 and stopped creating new jobs, which led to unemployment hike by more than 500,000 people,“ warns RUZ. The association said that the social experiment was canceled in 2008 as extremely unsuccessful, which was also confirmed by numerous international organizations including OECD.
KOZ has interrupted their protests against the planned changes to the Labor Code and is resuming negotiations. KOZ president Miroslav Gazik has announced the decision after last week’s meeting with Prime Minster Iveta Radicova. One more protest rally took place on Thursday organized by the trade union KOVO in Banska Bystrica County. “We promised to take part in talks at the Ministry of Labor where we will present our view on the amendment to the Labor Code to social partners,” Gazik told journalists.
Trade unionists have started a petition calling for a referendum against Cabinet-planned changes to the Labor Code in January. They demand a cut in the working week from 40 to 35 hours with no changes to wages. They suggest reduction of overtime hours to 80 hours per week from the current 150 hours, while the Labor Code should preserve rights of employees at least at the current level. The president can announce a referendum if a petition is supported by at least 350,000 citizens.
SITA
