Hungarian Socialists call for scrapping ‘slave law’

The opposition Socialist Party has called on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to scrap the law that sets stricter overtime rules, the deputy leader of the party said on Tuesday.

November 20th will mark the first anniversary of ruling Fidesz submitting “the most disgraceful anti-worker law of all time,” Imre Komjáthi told a press conference.

He noted that the law, known among the opposition and critics as “slave law”, raises the upper threshold for annual overtime from 250 to 400 hours and allows companies a three-year period for paying for them, he said.

The government focuses solely on the profit interests of multinational companies and “the wealth grow of oligarchs and vassals of [Prime Minister] Viktor Orbán” rather than the interests of Hungarian workers, Komjáthi said.

The Socialists call on the prime minister to work with trade unions in ensuring that Hungarian workers receive a decent wage and spend more time with their families, Komjáthi said.

“We call on Viktor Orbán to scrap the slave law,” he said.

• Opposition protests against labour amendment: police have used tear gas, two officers were injured – PHOTOS, VIDEOS
• Scandal in the Hungarian parliament! Orbán hails “slave law”, opposition protests