PM candidate Karácsony meets German union leader

Gergely Karácsony, the PM candidate of the opposition Socialist and Párbeszéd parties, met German trade union federation (Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes, DGB) leader Reiner Hoffmann for talks in Budapest on Saturday.

The two sides agreed that the European community needs a unified wage policy, with consistent minimum wages and the same employee rights across the EU, Karácsony told a press conference after the meeting.

“Hungarians want European wages and European-level social security; a government which hinders such efforts is working contrary to the interests of Hungarian people”, Karácsony said.

He insisted that the upcoming national election will give voters an opportunity to “remove the government which prevents Europe’s revival” and pledged that his party alliance would “redirect Hungary back to Europe” if they win power on April 8.

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Hoffmann said that an “ailing” Europe called for political changes worked out in close cooperation between member states. The community should be demonstrated as “something more than just a European common market” to its citizens, but it requires a “strong welfare dimension”, he added. He insisted that European employees needed a significant payrise and argued that “there is no point in a competition in which wages are reduced and working hours increased”.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI