Monitor: Tomas: Pro-growth Measures to Be First Discussed by Tripartite

(STVR, 'O 5 minut 12', 24 May) Speaking on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) said that pro-growth measures will be subject to social dialogue before they are approved by the government. However, these 54 measures will not yet be on the agenda of the cabinet's session on Wednesday (27 May), he said, adding that the exact procedure and submission to the cabinet will be agreed at the Coalition Council meeting to be held on Monday (25 May). "The cabinet will deal with these proposals in legislative form, and a tripartite meeting will be held before the cabinet session. Therefore, it will not be convened this Monday or Tuesday (26 May), as they will not be ready in legislative form at this cabinet session," said Tomas, declining to specify a deadline. According to him, the measures will concern investment, taxes and social levies, energy, the labour market and entrepreneurship. "Those in the first round will have practically no impact on the state budget, and those in the second round in the autumn will be introduced with an impact on the state budget, if we agree on them, because that's when the act on the state budget is to be negotiated," said Tomas, adding that Voice-SD will not support employers' proposals to shorten the lunch break to 15 minutes, extend the probationary period from three to six months, or abolish recreational and sports vouchers. Also on the show, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party MP Simona Petrik said the government is late with the pro-growth measures and plans to introduce them in the third year of its term, despite knowing that there will be a problem with public finances. "So far you basically haven't presented them, you are unable to reach an agreement, so we don't even know what these measures will actually look like," she noted. "And what about the pro-growth measure concerning a pre-filled tax return? That's a specific measure from our programme to help entrepreneurs with red tape," noted Petrik. According to her, a reduction in taxes and social levies, perhaps by 2 to 3 percent, depending on the condition of public finances left by the current government, would also help. "I expect the deficit to be somewhere between 5 and 6 percent. Reducing the burden by one percent costs the state €360 million, and that money needs to be found somewhere. For example, in better tax collection," suggested Petrik, adding that tax collection seems to have worsened by €1.2 billion compared to 2023. Petrik agreed with the Trade Unions Confederation's request that the measures shouldn't burden employees. "We need to help entrepreneurs so that it's possible to do business here, so that they can give work to people, offering the highest possible net wages. Neither is happening," she added. jrg