On Wednesday Parliament voted to overturn the veto of President Ivan Gašparovič and approved again the amendment to the Act on Collective Bargaining. The passed amendment reintroduces the mandatory extending of higher level or master agreements to all companies within a particular industrial field.
The President wanted to exclude a wider range of employers from the possible extension of the applicability of higher level agreements without the consent of employers. Republic Union of Employers (RUZ), Employers Union Association (AZZZ), Slovak Trade and Industrial Chamber (SOPK) and Club 500 all disagree with the passed amendment claiming that the legislation significantly empowers labour union heads while stripping employers of the ability to make any real decisions about salary policy in their companies. Moreover, they claim that, “the state might also face a string of lawsuits seeking compensation for damages from the companies affected”. The disputed legislation amending collective bargaining, which was approved by Parliament currently dominated by the ruling SMER party, will end before the Constitutional Court, say representatives of right wing parliamentary parties grouped within the People's Platform. They claim that, “the law goes against the principles of free competition, freedom of choice, and against sanity”, stated SDKU vice-chairman Ivan Štefanec.
