Bratislava – The tripartite body has unanimously endorsed the draft law ensuring equal pay for men and women. This announcement was made on Monday following a meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the Slovak Republic by Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family Erik Tomáš (Hlas-SD). The law aims to incorporate the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value into Slovak legislation, aligning it with European Union regulations.
“The tripartite body has reached a unanimous decision on the new law regarding equal pay for men and women for equal work or work of equal value. The law advanced through the tripartite process without any objections from social partners, signifying full consensus among employers, trade unions, and the Association of Towns and Municipalities of Slovakia,” the Minister of Labour explained.
Erik Tomáš highlighted that employers will be required to establish a remuneration structure, evaluating jobs based on four defined criteria: complexity, responsibility, strenuousness, and working conditions. Additionally, assessments will include evaluations of “soft skills,” such as social and communication abilities.
“We provided feedback on the law; while we are not entirely satisfied, it is necessary for the transposition of European legislation. There are issues concerning job positions and work performed, as discrepancies may persist even among workers in identical roles,” stated Rastislav Machunka, president of the Association of Employers’ Unions and Associations (AZZZ) SR.
He pointed out that AZZZ identifies challenges related to the mandated administration that stems from the European directive.
Martina Hoštáka, Secretary General of the National Union of Employers (RÚZ), noted that equality in remuneration for men and women is already enshrined in Slovak law, including provisions in the Labour Code and the Anti-Discrimination Act. “From our perspective, implementing the relevant European directive should not pose significant challenges. However, the bureaucratic obligations tied to the law are cumbersome for businesses. We have engaged with the Ministry of Labour to address all our concerns,” Hošták emphasized.
“Despite existing legal guarantees for equal pay for equal work, various studies indicate that this equality remains more of an aspiration than a reality. Thus, we anticipate that the implementation of the European directive will help bridge the existing disparities,” remarked František Gajdoš, Vice-President of the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ) SR. (8 December)
“We are not satisfied, but it is the implementation of European legislation. There is a problem with the position and with the work performed.” Rastislav Machunka
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