Slovak Republic: Labour Code revision under debate

On coming to office in August 2006, the present coalition government, led by the left-leaning Smer-SD party, promised a series of trade union- and employee-friendly amendments to the Labour Code, some of which would reverse changes made by the former centre-right coalition government.

The government has now issued its proposals, which include: laying down a maximum weekly working time, including overtime; tightening the legal definition of dependent employment so as to prevent employers from disguising employment relationships as self-employment or other forms of work; limiting the use of flexible employment contracts and giving greater protection to the workers involved; increasing employee protection from dismissal; and improving health and safety in the workplace.