Huge gaps between end-of-the-year rewards in Hungary

Reports of how much money some people have received as an end-of-the-year bonus have been flooding the web for the past week. No one has pointed out how huge the gap is between some of these amounts.

While those working for the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) got €1,625 on average as a bonus, employees of the Ministry of Homeland Affairs averagely received €1,815. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave out €795,966 between its 686 workers. A paramedic received not even €15 as a bonus and immediately transferred it back. Those working in armed forces will receive 10 times as much.

The government already spent over €605 million on bonuses before Christmas from unspent budget revenue and is expected to spend more before New Year’s, according to 24.

The National Bank of Hungary estimates that this year’s tax revenues will exceed plans by €1,089,535,400, not to mention the European Union resources the country has received. The government could spend this on debt, sports, Church, or other purposes.

Many paramedics were expecting a bonus of €112 – as disclosed in the Collective Agreement made at the end of 2016. However, as of December 11, the Kúria repelled the collective agreement, reported Népszava. This means the loss of multiple services, including the washing of work clothes, shoes, and the refund of bank account costs. So, the National Ambulance Service decided to transfer the amount, previously titled as expenses, as regular wage.

Many of the paramedics’ wage barely reaches minimum wage, and they could have used the amount disclosed in the agreement. The Service has promised to compensate those who received such small amounts in next month’s payments.