Social partners (government, employers and unions) in Slovakia failed to reach agreement on an increase in the minimum wage by 8.1 percent beginning January 2010, according to the state secretary of the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Ministry, Emilia Kršíková. She told the TASR newswire on August 17 after a meeting of the Economic and Social Council that "On this point, the negotiations were interrupted," pointing to the proposal submitted to the session by the Labour Ministry, proposing an increase of minimum salary from the current €295.50 to €319.50 a month.
"The issue of reduced demand for labour should not prevent an employee on the minimum wage from living at a minimum living standard," Kršíková said in support of the ministry’s proposal.
The Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ) agrees with the ministry's proposal. "We want the minimum wage to be raised," said KOZ vice-president Vladimír Mojš, adding that trade unionists will not agree with freezing of the minimum wage or its decrease.
According the president of the Republic Union of Employers (RUZ), Marián Jusko, employers would prefer to see no increase in the minimum wage. "This decision-making process offers two options: a weak job or no job," Jusko said. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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