Tripartite: Next Potential Consolidation Won't Affect Public or Firms

Bratislava, 23 March (TASR) - The government isn't planning to include any further measures in the next potential consolidation package that will affect individuals or businesses, government representatives informed the social partners at a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (the tripartite) on Monday, at which 32 items were discussed. "This is a very important conclusion and statement from this tripartite meeting, namely that if any consolidation takes place, it will be exclusively on the side of state expenditures or streamlining state systems," said Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD), who also holds the post of tripartite chairman, following the tripartite meeting. According to Tomas, the Labour Ministry will continue to bring order to these areas, as it's been successful, for example, in combating fictitious sick leave. "Last year, we saved the state €140 million in the fight against fictitious sick leave, and after the first nearly three months [of this year], it appears that we're continuing at this pace and will save approximately the same amount this year as we did last year," he said. According to the labour minister, the situation regarding the retention of holiday bonuses for public holidays for which time off was scrapped, should be resolved by the Finance Ministry via an amendment to the Public Holidays Act, as the body responsible for the Consolidation Act. Tomas emphasised that it isn't true that he should be the one to resolve the issue via an amendment to the Labour Code. If, as he believes, Premier Robert Fico and Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (both Smer-SD) have decided to retain the allowances for people, then he can respect that as chair of the tripartite council. "The social partners, especially employers, raised objections to this stance. A representative from the Finance Ministry was present and will convey these objections to the finance minister," added Tomas. am/df