MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, May 1): BRATISLAVA - The voice of Slovakia has grown stronger since it joined the EU, and our society has become more prosperous, according to President Zuzana Caputova's post on X on Wednesday marking the 20th anniversary of Slovakia joining the EU. "For twenty years we've been the European Union - a community of values, freedom, solidarity and security. Our voice has grown in power, and our society has become more prosperous. Joining the EU was one of the best decisions in Slovakia's modern history," posted the head of state. As the European Union we've proven that we can become stronger and more successful via mutual cooperation, added Caputova. BRATISLAVA - Everyone should enjoy genuine opportunities to find jobs that will support them and their families, stated President Zuzana Caputova on the occasion of Labour Day on Wednesday. "I wish everyone jobs in which they can utilise their skills and talents under dignified working and salary conditions. This holds true in particular for young people who have lower-level qualifications or face generational poverty," she posted on a social network. In this respect, the head of state drew attention to people with various qualifications who are being forced to travel abroad for jobs. "You're leaving Slovakia to become able to support yourselves and your family. More often than not, the outcome is divided families and children affected by the absence of their parents," posted Caputova. She hopes that Slovakia will develop all of its regions more extensively, "so that everyone can enjoy an opportunity to find a job that will provide a dignified life at home". TOPOLCANY/BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico celebrated Labour Day on May 1 by working a night shift from Tuesday to Wednesday at the ZKW Slovakia factory in Krusovce (Nitra region), declaring that there's a need to start speaking to employers about the proportion of night work in Slovakia, which is the highest in the EU, and also bonuses for such work. "I take my hat off to all the employees here," stated Fico after ending his night shift at the factory, which employs about 3,000 people and produces lighting systems and electronics. Fico worked on the headlight assembly line, and he praised the work commitment of the employees. Before the start of his shift, he also met the factory management. The prime minister added that the government intends to increase the minimum wage, which should swell to €1,000 per month in 2026-27. "There are other bonuses tied to the minimum wage, including night-shift bonuses. If they remain tied to the minimum wage, they'll grow along with it," he said. Another option is to decouple these two items and find a different parameter in collaboration with employers. "So, for the time being, night-shift bonuses are going up along with the minimum wage, and I think that people deserve it. I'm aching all over after this shift," he claimed. BRATISLAVA - President-elect Peter Pellegrini wants to do everything in his power to ensure that Slovakia will be a full-fledged member of the big European family, but at the same time he declared that protecting Slovak national interests will take top priority, TASR learnt on Wednesday. Speaking to mark the 20th anniversary of Slovakia joining the EU, Pellegrini declared that the country's accession to the unified Europe was one of the watershed events in its modern history. "I hope to see Slovakia represented in the European Parliament after the June election by people who aren't afraid to speak up when it becomes necessary to take a stand for our homeland and defend its interests," he posted on a social network. BRATISLAVA - The first stage of police reform will begin as of May with the creation of a new post of Police Corps Vice-president for Internal Order and Security, to which Rastislav Polakovic was appointed on Wednesday, TASR learnt from Police Corps Presidium spokesperson Michal Slivka on the same day. "The vice-president of the Police Corps for internal order and security will guarantee that regional organisational structures of the Police Corps are functional and well balanced. As for regional and district directorates and individual departments, the vice-president will be responsible for setting criteria to identify the optimal number of police jobs based on the nature and specifics of police precincts," said the spokesperson. The spokesperson added that the National Crime Agency (NAKA) and the National Centre for Special Crimes in particular are overstaffed and operating with opaque agendas. Because of this, their departments should be streamlined and made to operate more efficiently. am