Hungarian Ministry Responds To Demonstrators
- 9 Oct 2014 9:00 AM
Hungary’s government is preserving the value of pensions and making sure decent jobs are available, the Economy Ministry said late on Tuesday in response to a demonstration outside its main building. The ministry said the pension system is sustainable, reacting to supporters of union alliance MSZSZ, who protested for early retirement and against a wage-freeze for public servants.
The ministry also noted improvements in the area of employment and wages. Péter Pataky, the head of MSZSZ representing about 250,000 employees, said it was only possible to live on decent earnings if the workers’ right to a decent retirement is also respected.
He added that an early retirement was not charity.
People working in such fields as mining, workplaces exposed to hazardous materials or under extreme temperatures have sacrificed their and their families’ health for their work, he said.
The event was addressed by Luc Triangle, the head of IndustriAll Europe, a trade representation of 6 million workers.
He said it was unacceptable that Hungarian public workers had not had a collective contract for years.
More than 200 people took part in the demonstration organised on the occasion of the World Day for Decent Work.
Source www.hungarymatters.hu
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MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt
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