Payments that the state transfers to health and social insurance funds for the insured should increase from the current 4.5 percent to 5 percent of the average wage in Slovakia, suggested Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) President Miroslav Gazdík following his meeting with President Ivan Gašparovič.
"If the state transfers 5 percent for its policyholders, it might help the health sector," said the trade union boss. He stated that the government should pay "a lot of attention" to the health sector, the SITA newswire wrote.
The KOZ president pointed out to problems that trade unions have in collective bargaining with smaller employers.
"There is more room for stalling negotiations in smaller companies than for serious social dialogue," stated Gazdík.
With regard to the government, trade unions are striving to replace by a single law the current two laws: on the state services and on the public service. The law should also apply to people working in social services, Gazdík added.
Gašparovič talked with trade union representatives about the need to complete reforms in the health and education sectors. SITA
b>Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.