Jozef Viskupic Re-elected as SK8 Chair

Trnava/Bratislava, 22 May (TASR) - The Association of Self-governing Regions (SK8) will continue to be headed by Trnava regional governor Jozef Viskupic, who was re-elected at its session in Trnava on Thursday. No personnel changes took place regarding the vice-chair SK8 posts, either, with Trencin, Banska Bystrica and Presov governors Jaroslav Baska, Ondrej Lunter and Milan Majersky remaining in place. "I believe that together, just as we have been used to so far, we'll be able to be a good partner to the government, the European Commission and all mayors in the country in areas where the self-governing regions find agreement," said Viskupic. Erika Jurinova, the Zilina governor, was elected as the chief auditor of the association. The SK8 chair also announced that the association will propose to the Finance Ministry that the government should compensate the regions for the approved €800 bonuses that public administration employees are supposed to receive. The compensation could come in the form of forgiving part of the so-called road loans or in the form of direct financial compensation. Only then will the regions be willing to sign a higher-level collective agreement. According to Viskupic, the regional authorities have obligations arising not only from legislation dealing with the remuneration of public employees, but also from the Labour Code. "We are talking about €1.5 million that the state should also compensate," he emphasised. mf/df