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Around 50 Ambassadors Meet Dzurinda for First Time

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - Around 50 ambassadors accredited in Slovakia met the country's new Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda (SDKU-DS) in Bratislava on Thursday. A number of ambassadors told Dzurinda that their countries' ministers are interested in meeting him at the upcoming UN General Assembly. The diplomats mainly discussed issues dominant… read more

Slovaks Resume Departure Abroad in Search of Work

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - Two years of reductions in the number of Slovaks leaving the country to work abroad have come to an end, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Thursday. "In the second quarter of 2010, we registered a 4.7-percent jump in the number of labour migrants abroad, especially in the Czech Republic and Austria," said Ivan Chrappa of the Office's… read more

Analysts: Slovak Economy Fuelled by Higher Inventories and Exports

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - Foreign demand and the revision of inventories have led the expansion of Slovakia's economy, which grew by 4.7 percent year-on-year and by 1.2 percent on the previous quarter in the second quarter of this year, analysts concur. "After inventories fell last year by close to €2 billion in Slovakia, we expected them to rise again along… read more

Three-fifths of Slovaks See Deterioration in Slovakia\'s Economy

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - No fewer than three-fifths of Slovaks believe that their country's economic situation has deteriorated in the last 12 months, whereas 8 percent and 30 percent, respectively, see it as improving or unaltered, according to a survey presented to the Government on Thursday. Of the respondents, 21 percent see a favourable outlook for the country's… read more

Slovakia\'s Economy Slowed Slightly to 4.7 percent Y-o-Y in 2Q10

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - Slovakia's economic growth eased to 4.7 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2010, down slightly from the 4.8 percent recorded in 1Q10, said the Statistics Office on Thursday, after revising its preliminary estimate of 4.6 percent. Between April and June, Slovakia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew to €16.36 billion worth… read more

Average Monthly Salary Rose by 3.6 percent to €758 in 2Q10

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - The average monthly salary in Slovakia increased by 3.6 percent on the year to €758 in the second quarter of 2010, the Statistics Office announced on Thursday. Compared to the previous quarter, the figure rose by 0.9 percent. The average nominal salary for the first six months of 2010, meanwhile, went up by 2.8 percent year-on-year… read more

Slovakia Mourns Shooting Spree Victims, Flags at Half-mast

Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - Slovakia is observing a day of state mourning on Thursday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with state flags flying at half-mast in memory of the victims of the gun massacre that took place in the Bratislava borough of Devinska Nova Ves on Monday. The day of mourning was declared by the Government at an extraordinary session on Tuesday. Lubomir… read more

Dzurinda Meets British Ambassador to Discuss Major EU Affairs

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Tuesday met with British Ambassador to Slovakia Michael Roberts to discuss co-operation between Slovakia and the United Kingdom in major European issues, the ministry's press department told TASR later in the day. In addition, the British official gave appreciation to Slovakia's involvement… read more

FinMin: Public Deficit to Exceed €5 Billion and Reach 7.8 Percent of GDP

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - The deficit in public finances this year is currently estimated to reach 7.8 percent of GDP compared to the originally planned 5.5 percent, a Finance Ministry report on development of public finances indicates. This means that the deficit will be €1.403 billion higher than the original estimate, and will reach €5.109 billion this year.… read more

Minimum Wage to Go Up to €317 Per Month as of January 2011

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - The minimum wage is expected to go up by almost €10 a month as of January 2011 and reach €317, reads a Labour, Social Affairs and Family Ministry proposal released on Tuesday. The hourly wage was set at €1.822. Used in the calculation was the year-on-year growth of the nominal monthly wage in 2009, which according to the Statistics… read more

Radicova: Single Person Sent Entire Country into State of Alarm

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - The shooting rampage in Bratislava on Monday is a new phenomenon for Slovakia – "an event when one person terrified the whole of Slovakia," Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said following an extraordinary Government session on Tuesday. "We all wish that the injured who are currently in critical condition will eventually recover," said Radicova.… read more

Gov\'t to Compensate Victims of Shooting Tragedy in Devinska Nova Ves

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - The Government has decided to financially compensate the wounded and bereaved of the victims shot dead by a man identified by police as Lubomir Harman on Monday in the Devinska Nova Ves borough of Bratislava, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said after the extraordinary Government session on Tuesday. The Labour, Social Affairs and Family Ministry… read more

Figel: Rail Companies Saved Thousands by Re-valuing Contracts

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - State-owned rail companies have saved thousands of euros over the past few weeks by re-valuing contracts, said Transport Minister Jan Figel (Cristian Democratic Movement/KDH) on Tuesday. Figel explained that savings were made thanks to re-evaluations of charges in already signed contracts as well as in electronic auctions. He added that… read more

AmCham: Gov\'t Plans Will Bring Big Hikes in Social Insurance Payments

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - According to foreign investors, an increase in the maximum assessment basis for calculating monthly insurance levies to five times the average monthly salary, which has been proposed by the Government, would bring a 37-percent increase in social-insurance payments for employees with higher earnings. According to a statement provided for… read more

Three Injured in Gun Rampage Still in Serious Condition, But Stable

Bratislava, August 31 (TASR) - Three people injured in the shooting rampage that took place in the Bratislava borough of Devinska Nova Ves on Monday, which cost the lives of eight people, including the gunman himself, remain in a serious condition, TASR was told on Tuesday by Faculty Hospital in Bratislava spokesperson Rut Gerzova. "One patient in Kramare Hospital and… read more