The forum of employers, unions and the government (VKF) failed to move any closer to an agreement on this year’s minimum wage rise at a meeting on Wednesday and will continue talks in the coming week.
Employers continued to offer a 3.1% increase, while unions stuck to their demand of 5%, representatives of the sides told MTI. Ferenc Rolek, the deputy head of employers’ association MGYOSZ, said the possibility of modifying the “cafeteria” voucher system to bridge the gap between the sides was brought up at the meeting, but said that was an option for the government to decide. László Kordás, who heads unions association MASZSZ, said union leaders were looking to the government to break the deadlock. He added that while unions are standing firm on the 5% increase, “other confederations” have signalled they may be willing to yield ground in the interest of sealing a deal. Kordás stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on the matter by January 20, so the increase can show up in workers’ January paycheks. At present, the gross monthly minimum wage for skilled workers is 210,600 forints (EUR 587) and the minimum wage for unskilled workers is 161,000 forints.
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