Cziria, Ludovít

Bipartite social dialogue was established at cross-sector level in Slovakia in February 2013. Senior representatives of the country’s social partners in industry and construction signed a /contract on cooperation/ on 31 January 2013.

After a temporary decline in 2011, unemployment in Slovakia is again on the increase. According to Slovakia’s labour offices, registered unemployment reached 14.5% in December 2012. In addition, the unemployment rate among young people has been increasing and it is now one of the highest in the EU Member States. Around 33% of young people under 25 able to work are unemployed.

On 13 September 2012, teachers in Slovakia held a one-day strike in support of a 10% pay increase. Teachers in schools, kindergartens and universities walked out between 08.00 and 18.00 after the strike was called by the Trade Union Association of Workers in Education and Science (OZPŠaV [1]). [1] http://www.ozpsav.sk/sk/Odborovy-zvaz.alej

Following the introduction of the new pension system in Slovakia in 2004 (*SK0404102F* [1]), employees began to pay their contributions to the country’s pension insurance scheme in a different way (*SK0507101F* [2]). The first pillar of the scheme, through the Social Insurance Agency (SP [3]), required employees to pay 9% of their wages to the state-run public pension insurance fund. A further 9% went to private pension funds – the second pillar. The government promised the new system would mean that young people in particular would receive higher pensions at retirement. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/pension-reform-finally-a-reality [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/reaping-the-benefits-of-pension-reform [3] http://www.socpoist.sk/

In 2011, nurses and midwives campaigned for an increase in their salaries (*SK1105029I* [1]) leading to new pay scales being agreed by the Government. In February 2012, the Slovakian Parliament adopted the Act on minimum wage claims for nurses and midwives – the minimum monthly rates being increased by either €66 or €33, depending on the job position. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/industrial-relations-working-conditions-undefined/health-care-workers-protest

The biggest steel company in Slovakia, US Steel Košice [1], which has around 13,000 employees, has negotiated with trade unions to strike a deal which it hopes will improve efficiency and productivity. [1] http://www.usske.sk/

U.S. Steel Košice [1], the biggest steel company in Slovakia, has introduced a four-day working week to enable the company to respond to a drop in orders in Europe without job losses. Company management decided to introduce the shortened working week from January 2012. [1] http://www.usske.sk/

This report provides information on selected data monitored by the Information System on Working Conditions (ISPP) sample survey for Slovakia 2008–11. The proportion of organisations with employee representatives and covered by collective agreements in the survey decreased during this period. The average agreed growth of wage tariffs or nominal wages fell between 2008 and 2010. Higher wage increases were agreed in 2011 but the share of organisations involved decreased significantly. Similar trends have been seen in severance pay and discharge benefit agreements above the statutory minimum levels. Compared to 2008, a slight increase in average weekly working time was recorded for 2009–11.

Slovakian doctors have begun handing in their notice as part of a protest by hospital physicians, organised by the Trade Union of Physicians (LOZ), which continues (*SK1105029I* [1]) in most state-owned hospitals. The doctors are demanding: [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/industrial-relations-working-conditions-undefined/health-care-workers-protest

The minimum wage rate in Slovakia has increased almost four times in nominal terms from €81.3 per month in 1993 to €317 in 2011. As Table 1 indicates, the rate has also increased each year since 2002 in nominal as well as real terms.