Slovak industrialists call holiday pay surcharge elimination a consolidation mistake

Slovak industrial representatives have criticized the government's plan to eliminate premium pay for employees working on cancelled public holidays, calling it an error in the country's fiscal consolidation package. The National Council, Slovakia's parliament, has until its April session to reverse the measure, which would remove the legal requirement for employers to pay higher wages to workers who work on days that were previously designated as public holidays. The criticism comes as Slovakia pursues broader economic reforms aimed at reducing the budget deficit, but business groups argue this particular measure could harm worker compensation and labor relations.