Unions to stage protests over tax hikes

Slovak unions are planning to organise protests against upcoming hikes in taxes, with Confederation of Labour Unions (KOZ) deciding today (Wednesday, September 22) to hold a demonstration in front of the Slovak Parliament on October 12. This follows a failure to reach any agreement at yesterday’s tripartite session (comprising representatives of government, employees and employers), which means that measures to consolidate public finances will be passed on to ministers without any change.

Slovak unions are planning to organise protests against upcoming hikes in taxes, with Confederation of Labour Unions (KOZ) deciding today (Wednesday, September 22) to hold a demonstration in front of the Slovak Parliament on October 12. This follows a failure to reach any agreement at yesterday’s tripartite session (comprising representatives of government, employees and employers), which means that measures to consolidate public finances will be passed on to ministers without any change.

“The unions strongly disagree with the proposed measures,” KOZ Vice-President Vladimír Mojš told the TASR newswire after the tripartite session. Head of the KOVO union Emil Machyna added that the upcoming measures will put an unacceptable burden on ordinary people. “It’s unfair when people are hit more than businesses,” he said. The president of the Republic Union of Employers, Marián Jusko, criticised the unionists over their reaction. “It’s necessary to do something about the current financial situation. I think that the reaction of the labour unionists is too one-sided. They don’t want to suffer, but it’s us – businessmen – who suffer as well,” said Jusko.

Union representatives object to the proposed rise in VAT by one percentage point from 19 to 20 percent. They also oppose the hike in excise tax on beer and alcohol, although they have not objected to a rise in the tax on tobacco products.

Members of the KOZ leadership agreed on Wednesday, September 22, to hold the October 12 demonstration, Machyna informed the SITA newswire. He added that individual unions will also hold protests in regions.

Source: 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.

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