THE SLOVAK Roma are increasingly unhappy with the changes that the government has made to the social benefit system. Protest rallies are becoming more frequent in eastern Slovakia while earlier this week a group of Roma robbed a local store, the daily SME wrote.
Roma leaders predict massive Roma demonstrations and revolts while analysts and sociologists warn that the Roma problem will soon become a problem for the whole of society.
Labour Minister Ľudovít Kaník defends the new social system and says that it motivates people to search for jobs.
"Nobody can help the Roma if they are not ready to help themselves at the same time," Kaník said.
Klára Orgovánová, cabinet appointee for the Roma community, said that such an approach is very inhumane.
"The Roma are motivated but they have no jobs [available]," she said.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
