AT THE URGING of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), the Slovak government has exempted the SAV from its vow to sack 20 percent of employees at all state organisations in order to save money.
The government, which has committed to supporting science and research, decided to allow exceptions "with an eye to individual needs," according to the Pravda daily.
"A 20 percent staff cut would mean disaster for the SAV. We would have to sack almost 700 scientists," said SAV Deputy Chairwoman Viera Rosová.
According to Rosová, the layoffs would have affected largely young scientists, forcing them to emigrate or move into the private sector.
Deputy PM Dušan Čaplovič, whose brief includes information science, said that people working in research and education do not have to fear layoffs.
"The planned layoffs will especially affect central state bodies such as ministries and regional state offices, which will be shut down next year," Čaplovič said, adding that the Sk100 million increase in the SAV's budget was evidence of the government's aims.
