Hungarian Socialists call for higher pay to public servants 

Budapest, September 7 (MTI) – The opposition Socialists on Wednesday called for higher pay for public servants who, they said, have not received a pay hike for several years.

The state run by ruling Fidesz is the worst employer in the country, with public servants working hard for little money, deputy Socialist leader Nándor Gúr told a press conference. It is no surprise that public servants working in local government have announced a strike for Sept. 14, since their basic monthly salary remains stagnant 38,650 forints (EUR 125).

The government should make up for several years of neglect and raise their net wage, he added.

The public servants’ trade union MKKSZ announced the September strike on August 17, demanding a gross wage increase of 30 percent, effective October 2016.

The ruling Fidesz party said in response that the Socialists had never respected public servants and had fired tens of thousands from the sector, deprived them of a month’s wages and kept them in a constant state of uncertainty. During successive Socialist governments, financing for even the country’s day-to-day operations and public servants’ wages fell short, the statement added.

Fidesz has reduced the public debt and embarked on wage-boosting schemes in the public sectors, affecting health-care workers, police, teachers, social workers, and employees in higher education, regional offices and government offices, it added.

Source: MTI