Parliament ratified the revised European Social Charter (ESC) on February 17 despite strong disagreement from the opposition parties, the SITA newswire reported.
The ECS ensures several economic and social rights for citizens of the European Union, such as the right to suitable work, fair working conditions, safe and healthy working conditions and just financial compensation.
The opposition argued that the Social Charter will tie Slovakia’s hands since it will prevent the state from undertaking important measures related to the labour market which may be needed to minimize impacts of the economic crisis.
“We will not be able to take certain measures necessary for Slovakia to get out of the crisis as soon as possible,” an MP for the opposition SDKU, Štefan Kužma, said as quoted by SITA.
But the ruling coalition sees no problem with the revised European Social Charter and Labour Minister Viera Tomanová supported its ratification.
“It is responsible for the state in current times to give legal guarantees for protection of entrepreneurs or banks on one hand and on the other hand to compensate for this by committing itself to following the basic social standards in this document,” SITA quoted Tomanová as saying.
Compiled by Michaela Stanková from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
