Archive of articles - April 2005, page 2

High payroll taxes must go

THE WORLD Bank says a high tax wedge is partly responsible for long-term unemployment in new European Union member countries. In other words, the difference between a worker's take-home pay and what it costs to employ him is too great. The bank repeated its request that Slovakia lower its payroll taxes.

Reader feedback: Shelved plans

PM: Get ready for euro in January 2009

Reader feedback: Support free migration

NOW PLAYING IN CINEMAS

No pain, much gained

SLOVAKIA has gained an image as a pro-reform country and has managed to maintain this reputation during its first year as a member of the European Union. Like every other country it has also had to accept compromises. But compromise is needed in a 25-country community, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism Ján Figeľ told The Slovak Spectator in an interview.

Campaign "creates" 38,600 jobs

Fico most trusted politician

PM welcomes Pope Benedict XVI

A more hollow Ring

THERE'S nothing quite as terrifying as family, or at least that's what decades of horror films would have us believe. From low budget fare like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre through higher profile releases like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the remake) and The Shining, family dysfunction was at the heart of all carnage.

Learning to the stress-free rhythm

IONEERING Czech educational theorist Ján Ámos Komenský advised that using games was an effective way to teach children. He did not mention songs but he certainly would have approved of a Slovak initiative, English in Songs, which has found its way into the hearts and minds of children all over the country.

EU lacks will to lead world

DIPLOMATS clashed at a high-profile debate held in Bratislava on April 19. Some panelists said the European Union must absorb its newcomers before discussing further enlargement, while others said it must build bridges toward former Soviet states and Turkey. However, everyone agreed that the European Union is a long way from creating a common foreign and security policy.

The Pillory

WAYS of handing out punishment have often been inventive as well as cruel. Public shaming has been practised since time immemorial, and in Slovakia continued right up to the early 20th century, as we see in this postcard of a stone pillory from Piešťany.

Another HZDS member bites the dust

THE OPPOSITION party Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) lost its 12th MP since the 2002 parliamentary elections when long-time party member Dušan Jarjabek announced his departure.

Slovaks regular medicine shoppers

EVENTS COUNTRYWIDE

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIACENTRAL SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIAPrepared by Jana Liptáková

Paranoia or justified mistrust?

MANY turned a blind eye to a particularly disturbing piece of news. Intent on following the maths test debacle, papal elections and the departure of another disobedient deputy from Mečiar's party, journalists failed to react to a survey published in the daily SME.

Reader feedback: Allegations untrue

Protests against poverty in Gemer