Jozef Mikuš, an MP for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), has criticised the Robert Fico government for giving investment incentives totaling Sk9.75 billion during the last three cabinet sessions in December 2006 to businessmen who support the government, the SITA newswire wrote on October 29.
Mikuš says the government hid its true intentions by amending the rules on incentive provisions and reclassifying regional aid as state aid. He also believes the government intends to continue supporting its business allies this year.
The government approved further state aid of Sk1.15 billion last week for Korean carmaker Kia to expand its production. Mikuš points out that the Žilina Region, where the Kia assembly plant is situated, is a region with an unemployment rate of only 5.7 percent, while the average unemployment rate in Slovakia is around eight percent. He also emphasized that carmakers in Slovakia are already importing workforce from abroad due to a shortage of qualified workers in the automotive industry in Slovakia.
Mikuš pointed out that the bill on investment aid, which the parliament approved at its session on October 29, will further loosen the rules on how much money the government can give away. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
