Trade Unions Planning Protest against Consolidation in Front of Parliament

Bratislava, 22 September (TASR) - The Trade Union Confederation (KOZ) is organising a protest rally in front of Parliament on 30 September against the current form of consolidation of public finances, KOZ told TASR on Monday, adding that the aim is to express clear opposition to the fact that workers are repeatedly the ones who bear the greatest burden of government decisions. "KOZ is calling on all workers and the public to join the protest and together make it clear that the consolidation must be fair and mustn't come at the expense of workers. who can no longer shoulder any more of the burden," stressed the confederation. The trade unions warned that the government and Parliament are proceeding without real dialogue with the social partners and without seeking a fairer sharing out of the burden of consolidation. The consolidation package, worth €2.7 billion, contains 22 measures, with a burden of around €814 million - almost €400 for every person employed - to fall on the shoulders of workers. KOZ pointed out that the social partners have repeatedly called for a factual debate and have themselves offered alternative proposals for measures that would consolidate public finances in a fairer way. However, the government again submitted a package of measures to the Economic and Social Council at the last minute and without any real room for adjustment. am/df