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Mihal: Increase in Retirement Age Would Be Unethical

Bratislava, September 21 (TASR) - An increase in the age of retirement (currently 62) would be an unethical move, as the life expectancy of men in Slovakia is only 71, Labour Minister Jozef Mihal (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) said on Tuesday. "I personally don't agree with increasing the retirement age ... as currently men enjoy their pensions for only nine years (on average).… read more

Analysts: Coalition May Break Up Over Hayek Group Case

Bratislava, September 21 (TASR) - The 'Hayek Group case' is endangering the cohesion of the governing Coalition, with a real possibility of a break-up, analyst Juraj Marusiak told TASR on Tuesday. At the same time, the analyst thinks that the case will put Premier Iveta Radicova's position in Government to the test. "She is trying to dismiss persons (Martin Chren of SaS… read more

Brigita Schmognerova: I Want to Foster Social Democracy in Slovakia

After eight years of working abroad, she says she has come back home to share her experience and help cultivate social democracy in Slovakia. The country's former finance minister (1998-2002) and more recently vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (2005-2010) Brigita Schmognerova spoke to TASR – making her the first instalment of the newly-launched… read more

Bibiana Showcases Award-Winning Illustrations for Children\'s Books

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - In the coming days in the U.S. capital Washington the Bratislava-based international house of art for children Bibiana will showcase the best illustrations for children's books from 43 years of its biennial illustrations competition BIB in Slovakia, the Culture Ministry reported on Monday. In two exhibitions organised in conjunction with… read more

Dzurinda Cheers Iceland\'s EU Bid at Site of Reagan-Gorbachev Summit

Reykjavik, September 20 (TASR) - In the building in that Iceland's capital in 1986 saw the historic meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Monday encouraged Icelandic leaders in their effort to get their country into the EU. "On this spot in 1986 the world begun to change,"… read more

Ben-Zvi: Slovak-Israeli Co-operation Good, But More Could Be Done

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) – One of the ways to intensify Slovak-Israeli economic co-operation is to exchange business delegations, according to the new man in the post of Israeli ambassador to Slovakia, Alexander Ben-Zvi, who took office just a few days ago. "One of the problems in the economic co-operation, in my opinion, is the fact that we don't know enough… read more

Seasonal Work Contributes to Short-term Decline in Joblessness

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - Seasonal works, according to analysts, contributed to unemployment easing in August. "Unemployment benefited from seasonal works as typical in the summer and have offset the lay-offs in companies," said Postova Banka analyst Eva Sadovska on Monday. Analysts described the August drop in Slovak unemployment to 12.19 percent from 12.33… read more

Sulik Discusses Referendum and Loan to Greece in Prague

Prague, September 20 (TASR-correspondent) - Plans for state savings via reducing MPs' salaries, Slovakia's experience with referendums as well as the recent refusal of the Slovak Government to participate in the loan to Greece were up for discussion between Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik and his counterpart in the Lower House of the Czech Parliament Miroslava Nemcova… read more

FinMin Drafts Bill to Cap Guaranteed Deposit Amount in Banks

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - Pursuant to a new European Union guideline, the Finance Ministry has announced that it has drafted an amendment to the law on protection of deposits in banks, which caps the guaranteed amount at €100,000 – with effect from December 31. The bill also cuts the three-month deadline for the repayment of unavailable deposits in banks… read more

National Unemployment Rate Dropped to 12.19 percent in August

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - Slovakia's unemployment rate dropped slightly (by 0.14 percentage points) month-on-month to 12.19 percent in August, the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Office (UPSVaR) announced on Monday. A total of 370,671 job-seekers were registered at job centres in August. Even though their number was 3,758 lower than in July, the same figure… read more

Average National Pension Seen Up €14 in August Year-on-Year

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - Slovakia's average old-age pension rose by €14.02 year-on-year in August to €352, Social Insurance Company said on its website on Monday. Most of Slovakia's one million pensioners draw this old-age monthly pension, which by its amount ranks second among pensions. The early old-age pension is the highest, at €366.12, while the disability… read more

Chren: None of Hayek Consulting Scandals Are True

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - Economy Ministry State Secretary Martin Chren (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) rejects any accusation that he violated the law when the company called Hayek Consulting was awarded state commissions, he said at a press conference held on Sunday. "Recently, my name has been associated with several purpose-built scandals like the notice-board… read more

Political Analysts Differ on Facets of Referendum

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - The participation of Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik and President Ivan Gasparovic in Saturday's referendum was an exercise in humiliation for the high-rank political officials, said political analyst Rastislav Toth on Sunday. "They have identified with the stance of approximately 20 percent… read more

President Gasparovic and Foreign Minister Dzurinda Leave for Iceland

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic left on Sunday for an official visit to Iceland – the first visit of a high public official to Iceland in Slovakia's modern history. The aim of the visit is to intensify bilateral dialogue in the sphere of trade and commerce, research and development, as well as to show support for Iceland's ambition… read more

Referendum Fails On 22.84-percent Turnout, Shows Mix of Results

Bratislava, September 19 (TASR) - The seventh plebiscite in Slovakia's history failed on low turnout, Central Referendum Commission (URK) announced on Sunday. The turnout at Saturday's referendum reached 22.84 percent, far less than the 50 percent needed for the vote to be valid. Out of 4,369,553 eligible voters, 998,142 came to voice their opinion on cancelling… read more