Budapest (MTI) – The opposition parties Socialists, Egyutt and LMP rejected on Thursday ruling Fidesz’s assertion that the minimum wage in Hungary has increased by 43 percent in the past five years.

The Socialists cited Eurostat figures showing that Hungary’s minimum wage is one of the lowest in the European Union and demanded an immediate major rise. Socialist lawmaker Laszlo Varga said in a statement that eight out of every ten Hungarian workers earn less in real terms today than five years ago as a result of the ruling Fidesz’s policies.

Green opposition LMP said the government has taken away from minimum wage earners more in recent years than it has awarded them. The minimum wage increased by monthly 8,500 forints in the past five years, even if the gross amount grew by 31,500 forints. So they have only pocketed a 14 percent increase as against 43 percent cited by Fidesz, LMP said.

Egyutt also said the net minimum wage had risen by only 14.2 percent since 2010. Over the same period, consumer prices have grown by 16 percent, which means people on the minimum wage are actually worse off than five years ago, the party said.

Fidesz group leader Bence Tuzson told a press conference earlier on Thursday that the minimum wage grew from monthly 73,500 before tax in 2010 to 105,000 in 2015 and the ruling party is determined to increase it further.

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