Government promises new perks

The Cabinet plans to increase the minimum wage close to €500 next year and further above €500 in 2019, according to Prime Minister Robert Fico. In addition, given that Slovakia has the largest proportion of people working at night (240,000 people) within the European Union, the bonuses for night work are set to be increased from 20 percent to 50 percent of the country's minimum wage. Bonuses for work during weekends and on state holidays are to be upped to 100 percent of the minimum wage. The Government also wants to introduce a special allowance for people who move to work to a different region than their own. A paid ten-day holiday for the fathers of newborn babies should also be enacted. The plan has been criticised by seven opposition MPs who argue that these are not systemic solutions for reducing the tax burden on labour in Slovakia.