Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure SK-2020-15/1036 – measures in Slovakia
Country | Slovakia , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 08 April 2020 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
Category |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Well-being of workers |
Author | Ludovit Cziria (IVPR) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 12 August 2020 (updated 05 May 2021) |
In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Slovakian government adopted several measures to alleviate its impact on employers, employees as well as citizens. Several measures were implemented via changes in the Labour Code, Act on Social insurance and other labour related legislation. They also had impact on employment and working conditions of employees. It was not easy for employees to familiarise with many changes and expected some support and instructions from trade unions.
To assist employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, trade union OZ Kovo prepared the list of fundamental rights of employees. It is a guiding document, which consists of answers to 11 frequently asked questions of employees facing to problems in their employment during the pandemic crisis in Slovakia. The list provides concrete instructions based on respective labour and social legislation for employees on their rights and entitlements during the pandemic crisis. Most questions concern the rights of employers to change employment conditions of employees concerning e.g. paid holiday, dismissals, changes in working time schedule and job description, use of home work. Other questions concern employees’ entitlements, e.g. to wages, use of pandemic nursing.
The List of fundamental rights of employees is publicly available on the webpage of the Metal Trade Union Association OZ Kovo. Any employee, regardless of his or her membership in OZ Kovo, or in other trade union can use it. Since 8 April 2020, employees can use the instructions of trade unions to respond properly to concrete challenges affecting their employment conditions and wages in practice.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Applies to all workers | Does not apply to businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Trade unions
|
Trade union
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative | No involvement |
Form | Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
This is an initiative of the Trade Union Association OZ Kovo, which prepared the List of fundamental rights of employees by its own experts. OZ Kovo responded to the demand of trade unionists for better guidance in orientation in actual changes in the labour and social legislation. OZ Kovo published the List on 8 April 2020, about four weeks after the Covid-19 pandemic was officially declared in Slovakia.
According to the available information, the employees responded positively to this initiative of trade unions. No detail information is available.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), The list of fundamental rights of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, measure SK-2020-15/1036 (measures in Slovakia), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/SK-2020-15_1036.html
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