Economy

Tripartite Can't Find Deal on Collective Bargaining and Schools Bills

Bratislava, April 10 (TASR) – The tripartite has failed to agree on an amendment to the Collective Bargaining Act and on funding primary and secondary schools, said Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jan Richter (Smer-SD) after a session of the Economic and Social Council (HSR), also known as the tripartite, on Monday.

Whereas trade unions and associations of employers object to the legislation on collective bargaining, the Slovak Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) is dissatisfied with the bill on schools. A bill on pensions received unanimous support, however.

“It needs to be said that agreement has been struck on most issues, and the materials were forwarded for further discussion, either legislative proceedings or a Government session. No agreement was made on two items. In the latter case, the partners agreed on further talks with the aim of finding a compromise accommodating the demands of all social partners,” said Richter.

The Republican Union of Employers (RUZ) welcomes all pro-reform measures in society, according to the organisation’s vice-president Lubos Sirota. “With this in mind, we endorsed the National Reform Programme. However, we’re most concerned about the document concerning collective bargaining,” he said.

There’s no way for RUZ to endorse this bill, said Sirota, because “there persists this ridiculous situation in which even a small number of employers that represent a small number of employees can set rules that are applicable to all”.

The same bill has also attracted a number of reservations from the Trade Union Confederation (KOZ), according to KOZ vice-president Monika Uhlerova.

Bratislava Transport Museum Opens Exhibition to Mark 110 Years of Vienna Tramway

The Slovak Technical Museum - the Transport Museum in Bratislava on Thursday opened an exhibition to mark 110 years since the launch of the Vienna Tramway.

Takac: Police Launch Criminal Investigation, Infested Wood Being Extracted Urgently

The police have already launched a criminal investigation regarding the failure to address the bark-beetle infestation in Banska Bystrica region, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac, who filed a criminal complaint in this connection in May, told a news conference on Monday.

SPPK: If Farmers Aren't Taken Seriously, They Will Be Seen in Streets More Often

If farmers' demands are not taken seriously, they will be seen in the streets more often, Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber chairman Emil Macho told a news conference held in front of the Parliament's building on Thursday.

Read next