Archive of articles - June 2014, page 11
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Average nominal salary in industry up 8.9 percent y-o-y in April
The most significant year-on-year rise in average nominal monthly salaries in April 2014 was recorded in the sector of industry (up 8.9 percent to €933 month), the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) said June 11. Other y-o-y increases were: in wholesale - 7.1 percent to €826, in transport and warehousing - 7.1 percent to €781, in retail - 4.1 percent to €579, in the sale and maintenance of motor vehicles - 3.1 percent to €819, and in accommodation - 3.1 percent to €603. Conversely, average monthly salaries fell in information and communications activities - by 4.6 percent to €1,711, in selected market activities - 3.7 percent to €789, in construction - 1.7 percent to €576, and in restaurants and pubs - 0.5 percent to €366. Average real salaries in April 2014 rose in yearly terms in industry - 9.1 percent, in wholesale and in transport and warehousing - both 7.3 percent, in retail - 4.3 percent, and in the sale and maintenance of motor vehicles and in accommodation - both 3.3 percent, the TASR newswire quoted the ŠU as saying. Meanwhile, average real salaries fell in information and communications activities - 4.4 percent, in selected market services - 3.5 percent, in construction - 1.4 percent and in restaurants and pubs - 0.3 percent y-o-y.
Gašparovič, Ivan
IF THERE were ever an instance of Sophie’s choice in reverse, it was in the second round of the Slovak 2004 presidential election. How do you choose between two men, neither of whom you want? In the end, Ivan Gašparovič beat his former boss Vladimír Mečiar and managed to hold the office for two terms. On June 15, Gašparovič will enter political retirement. What will he be remembered for?
Slovak economy to accelerate
THE LATEST prognoses indicate Slovakia is returning to economic growth, even to levels high enough to generate new jobs. Still, the Slovak central bank is warning that geopolitical tensions and their possible escalation represent a potential risk.
Kiska to offer his view of presidency at inauguration
PRESIDENT-elect Andrej Kiska’s inauguration programme should give some idea as to how he views the role of the president. Kiska will be inaugurated this Sunday, June 15.
€1.12 million to go to windstorm relief
THE ENVIRONMENTAL Fund will receive an additional €1.12 million to fund work to remove the damage from the Žofia windstorm, the cabinet decided at its June 11 session, as reported by the SITA newswire.
Šefčovič to run for EC post again
SLOVAKIA’s European Commission (EC) representative Maroš Šefčovič will run for his post again for the next term, 2014-2019. The cabinet approved his nomination as Slovakia’s official candidate for the post at its June 11 session, the SITA newswire reported.
‘I will miss you’, says Gašparovič to ministers
OUTGOING President Ivan Gašparovič will miss the cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Fico, as he admitted during the June 11 cabinet session, which is the last one he will attend before his term ends on June 15. “I look forward to having much more free time, but I am convinced that I will also miss you a little bit,” Gašparovič told the ministers, as quoted by the SITA newswire. “I will miss those meetings when we had problems, we called each other, we came, we sat down and we looked for solutions.”
Second-degree heat warning announced for Wednesday
The Slovak Hydro-meteorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued the medium - second-level heat warning for Wednesday, June 11, in western and southern Slovakia, including Bratislava.
Lajčák opens new honorary consulate in Pakistan
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák officially opened the new Slovak Honorary Consular Office in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 10. He also appointed Malik Muhammad Asif as new Slovak honorary consul. “This move will lead to improving the access of consular assistance for our citizens in Pakistan where a full-fledged representative office was lacking, and also the boosting of economic-trade co-operation with Pakistan, including a better overview of investment opportunities,” Lajčák during the second day of his official visit to the country, as quoted by the TASR newswire. During his stay in Lahore, the minister met with Punjab province governor Muhammad Sarwar, who expressed sadness over last year’s terrorist attack at Mount Nanga Parbat where a group of mountain climbers were killed by Taliban fighters, including two Slovak citizens.
Foreign expert: Slovak gov’t undermines work of ombudswoman Dubovcová
The current situation in Slovakia undermines the work of Ombudswoman, Jana Dubovcová, according to an international expert. After complaints by Dubovcová herself and after criticism from opposition politicians and non-governmental organisations, the President of the European Board of the International Ombudsman Institute Peter Tyndall wrote this opinion in a letter to the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Pavol Paška.
Central bank: GDP expected to grow 2.4 percent this year
The Slovak Central Bank (NBS) has confirmed its March mid-term forecast and said GDP will grow this year by 2.4 percent. “Compared to the previous prediction, there is a re-evaluation of domestic economic prospects leaning towards more favourable developments,” NBS Governor Jozef Makúch said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “The impact of fiscal measures incorporated into the prognosis is only mild.” In 2015, GDP is estimated to rise by 3.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage point against the previous NBS prognosis. Estimates remain unchanged for 2016, with GDP to rise by 3.5 percent. The inflation is predicted to be at 0.1 percent by the end of this year, a drop from previous prognosis by 0.1 percentage points. In 2015, inflation is expected to reach 1.6 percent (a drop by 0.3 percentage points) and in 2016 by 2 percent (drop by 0.1 percentage points). Estimates concerning employment have seen no change. A total of 16,000 jobs are expected to be created in the private sector, mostly in the segment of services, with the employment growth still remaining at 0.7 percent and likely to rise by 0.6 percent in 2015-16. “At the end of 2016, unemployment is likely to stand at 12 percent and thus not drop to the pre-crisis level,” said NBS Vice Governor Ján Tóth.
Sberbank to provide loan to Slovenské Elektrárne
Russian Sberbank will provide a loan of €870 million to Slovakia’s dominant power producer Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), for 7.5 years.
300 people collapsed from heat
RESCUERS have already treated nearly 300 people who collapsed from the heat in the past three days, including 172 women, 105 men and 18 children. Most of the people affected were in Žilina Region (56), while the fewest were in Trnava Region (24), the SITA newswire reported on June 10.
Dubovcová presented report in parliament
OMBUDSWOMAN Jana Dubovcová presented a report on her activities last year to MPs on June 10. The report focuses on children’s rights, including the violation of their right to education and insufficient food for children in reform centres, the Sme daily reported.
Sme: Lawyer asked for bribe for Supreme Court
SUPREME Court Justice Igor Burger is reportedly involved in a corruption case concerning Košice lawyer Alexander Farkašovský. According to the prosecutor, Farkašovský told a woman being charged that in return for a bribe he would arrange for the Supreme Court to decide in her favour through Burger, his former schoolmate.
Industrial production up, construction down
THE INDUSTRIAL production index (IPP) rose in April compared to the previous year, mostly thanks to an increase in industrial manufacturing. On the other hand, construction production dropped compared to April 2013 for the second time this year, the Statistics Office (ŠÚ) informed on June 10.
Remeta will reportedly build Višňové tunnel
THE CONSTRUCTION company Dúha, owned by businessman Miroslav Remeta, will build the longest highway tunnel in Slovakia, the Višňové, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported in its June 10 issue. The state took 16 years to select the winner in the competition.
Rusnák to leave president’s office over incident
DÁRIUS Rusnák, the head of the public relations department of the President’s Office, will leave his post as of June 15, when the new president is inaugurated. He is leaving at his own request after having provoked a violent incident in Bratislava’s Prezidentka bar.
SAC condemns Fico's words on foreign military presence in Slovakia
IT IS unacceptable to compare solidarity among allies and support within NATO to the presence of occupying troops of the Warsaw Pact in Czechoslovakia after 1968, the non-governmental think tank Slovak Atlantic Commission (SAC) wrote in a statement on June 9, in reaction to recent statements made by Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Primary-school leavers perform worse than last year in nationwide tests
THE FINAL tests administered this year to primary-school leavers across Slovakia produced worse results than last year, with only 4.4 percent of pupils scoring higher than 90 percent of all possible points in Slovak language and mathematics, the National Institute of Certified Measurements of Education (NUCEM) announced on June 9, as reported by the TASR newswire.
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- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
