RULES for collecting social benefits were tightened as of January 1, with jobless people required to search for work actively and report to labour offices, and welfare recipients expected to work for their local communities.
A law charging consumers small deposits on glass and plastic containers also took effect on January 1, part of a drive to encourage greater recycling in Slovakia.
The date also saw further powers devolved from state to local governments, such as land-use planning and construction permits, and brought major rises in regulated prices of energy, transport and utilities.
