Election Committee approves Socialist question on Sunday payment for referendum

Budapest (MTI) – The National Election Committee (NVB) on Wednesday approved a question for a national referendum submitted by the leader of the opposition Socialists regarding payment for Sunday work.

The question Jozsef Tobias submitted to the committee on April 21 is the following: “do you want that parliament amend the labour code to allow payment of a 200 percent premium for Sunday work in the retail trade sector?”

The committee approved the question in a unanimous vote.

A new law adopted earlier this year requires most big retailers to close on Sundays but exempts family-run shops under 200 square metres from the restriction.

Ruling Fidesz has acknowledged NVB’s decision, but noted that parliament had already made a decision on premium payment.

Lawmakers in March raised the premium to be paid for staff members of small retail shops for work on five Sundays a year from 50 to 100 percent, the party said in a statement.

Fidesz argued that doubling the Sunday premium would impose a huge burden on employers and risk jobs.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters