Tomas: Ministry Will Take Look at Low-income Self-Employed

(STVR, 'O 5 minut 12', 28 September) Labour Ministry will take a look at low-income self-employed, Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) said on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday. Opposition MP Marian Viskupic (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), also on the show, pointed to the fact that there are people among low-income self-employed who earn extra money through trade licences along with their main job and their income would be lower than the mandatory monthly social levy of €131 in some cases. "Everyone has to pay social-insurance levies, not just taxes and health-insurance levies, so that they can get at least some pension. However, there are groups of people whose income may not be high enough to cover their social levies - people with severe health problems, people living on parental allowances, those who care for children, pensioners, etc. We at the ministry will look at exception for some categories that might be exempt from paying social-insurance levies," said Tomas. Tomas also commented on the issue of savings on the part of the state, which will be reflected in the state budget law. As part of the consolidation, the ministry will cut costs by laying off its employees, saving on goods and services, and on foreign trips, he said. Tomas criticised the opposition for failure to present any alternative to the approved consolidation for next year. Viskupic objected that SaS itself came up with several measures as part of the consolidation, while the current government hasn't brought any development plan to increase the country's economy and competitiveness. Therefore, this consolidation will make many young people leave the country. The two politicians also touched the issue of the approval of an amendment to the Constitution with the support of 90 MPs. Viskupic criticised some opposition MPs from the 'Slovakia' party for voting in favour of the amendment. Tomas added that Slovakia has protected its values ​​with a constitutional majority and, therefore, the approval of the constitutional amendment must be respected. "The Voice-SD party managed to get to the Constitution equal pay for equal work for both women and men, which was our condition for supporting the amendment," he said. ko