BRATISLAVA, October 7, (WEBNOVINY) – The Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) is organizing a protest march on October 12 in the streets of Bratislava. The unionists want to point out that laws and reforms adopted by the incumbent government are not helping to improve the quality of people’s lives. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, KOZ President Miroslav Gazdik said that an example of such legislation is the amended Labor Code, prepared changes to the law on occupational safety and heath protection at work, and in particular the reform of taxes and payroll levies.
According to Gazdik, the unions feel the need to say “a loud no to Sulik’s castration of the social system, no to the supergross wage and not to the contribution bonus”. With regard to the government, he said it is an “arrogant, anti-social steamroller” that liquidates all social securities and the living standard of Slovakia’s citizens. He could not say how many trade unionists plan to join the protest next Wednesday.
The union representatives plan to finish the protest in front of the parliament with a call on parliamentary deputies not to approve the draft amendment to the law on income from dependent work, based on which the reform of taxes and payroll levies is to be implemented as of January of next year. “That would be the last nail in the coffin of social securities and living standard,” the KOZ head alleges. KOZ Vice President Daniela Zuffova added that the unionists will also make a stop in front of the presidential palace where they want to call on President Ivan Gasparovic not to sign the bill on income from dependent work into law if it is approved by parliament. Zuffova reminded that the president disappointed the unionists when he signed into law the amended Labor Code.
SITA