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SaS: Past Four Years Wasted Years for Slovakia
Monday 17 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 17 (TASR) - The just-ending election period, with the current Government in power, have been "four wasted years" for Slovakia, according to extraparliamentary Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) vice-chairman Jozef Mihal.
"Instead of continuing in reforms and building a modern Slovakia, everywhere you look now you can see pessimism, a bad mood, disgust and apathy," said Mihal at a news conference on Monday.
He said that even though the Government led by Robert Fico uses the term 'social' to describe itself, the reality is something else again. Mihal thinks that, on the one hand, Government is giving something to pensioners (a special welfare bonus on Christmas); on the other "they are being silently deprived of what they should have in their pockets" (as their pensions are poorly valorised).
"The last valorisation measure that took place in January this year proved that pensions have gone up only by 3.05 percent, which is an increase of only €10 when it comes to average pensions standing at €350."
Mihal also pointed out that it's working invalids who, quite paradoxically, represent the group exhibiting the greatest amount of solidarity among those socially insured. As he explained, since 2008 they have been paying compulsory social insurance which is designed to cover their possible invalidity, but they won't be eligible to receive this benefit in the future as the amended legislation does not allow it. Entailed in this conundrum is the law governing financial contributions to compensate serious disability as well as the Act on Social Services.
He also criticised the newly-introduced government policies vis-a-vis young families, calling them discriminating and unfair. Mihal said that entrepreneurs have also been going through hard times, as the Government raised the levy burden which makes the situation for those who want to run their businesses complicated. "The current system is one huge problem - it's unfair, full of loopholes, and hard to handle administratively," he said.
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