At its regular Wednesday meeting, Slovakia’s government cabinet did not arrive at a final decision on what minimum wage increase will take effect at the beginning of next year. The cabinet postponed discussion on the proposal by Labour Minister Viera Tomanová to increase the minimum wage by 8.1 percent to €319.50 as of January 2010. Further negotiations between representatives of employees and then with associations of employers are now expected.
“There is looming a consensus,” Tomanová said after the cabinet session, as cited by the TASR newswire, but she did not elaborate.
Slovakia’s social partners were not able to reach an agreement on the minimum wage increase. The Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ) is insisting on an 8.1 percent raise but employers want to keep the minimum wage at the present level or even cut or eliminate it entirely.
The minimum wage increased to €295.50 at the beginning of 2009 meaning that the lowest hourly wage €1.547 to €1.698. TASR
Compiled by Jana Liptáková from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
