Social measures to be subject of discussion with employers

The Association of Employers' Unions and the Republican Union of Employers have serious reservations concerning the package of social measures proposed by the governing parties. The social package which is in the pipeline includes a faster growth of the minimum wage, an increase in bonuses for night and weekend work, as well as a mandatory 13th salary. Employers find these measures populist and are warning against their consequences. At the same time, they criticise the long-term state of social dialogue in Slovakia and say they will reconsider their further participation in the tripartite talks. The Labour Minister Ján Richter claims he has already discussed some measures with the social partners (trade unions, employers and government). "It is still an open issue, it is a standard social dialogue. I don't think that the relationship is that sharp, maybe there are only too many new things at once," noted Richter.