Slovakia Offers Cheap Labor, Driving Workers Abroad, Trade Unions Warn

Slovak trade union experts criticized the country's labor market strategy during a webinar organized by the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ), arguing that Slovakia's position as a source of cheap labor is driving workers to seek employment abroad. The analysts discussed the current state of Slovakia's labor market and potential measures to increase wages. Slovakia has long attracted foreign investment through relatively low labor costs compared to Western Europe, but this approach has created a cycle where workers emigrate to countries offering higher salaries, particularly to neighboring Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The trade union confederation, which represents Slovak workers across various sectors, has been advocating for wage increases to stem the outflow of skilled labor and improve living standards for those who remain in the country.