Fresh protests against Hungary's 'slave law'
January 5, 2019
Some 10,000 people rallied outside the parliament building in Budapest on Saturday against labor reforms approved last month by the right-wing nationalist government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Hungarians are angry about what they call the new "slave law" that allows employers to demand hundreds of hours of overtime a year and delay payment for up to three years.
The protesters chanted "We will not be slaves" and "Dirty Fidesz," referring to Orban's party, as they marched in near-freezing temperatures past the parliament building on the banks of the Danube.
Orban and Fidesz have been able to hang on to a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament by taking control of the media and making changes to the country's election system.
Read more: Hungarians protest draconian 'slave law' as Orban cracks down on dissent
General strike threat
The government has argued that the law helps businesses suffering from labor shortages and benefits workers who want the extra pay.
But the country's largest union says increasing wages for standard working hours and a more flexible retirement system would bring more benefits to workers.
Hungarian Trade Union Federation President Laszlo Kordas said on Saturday that he will present its demands to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. If the government refuses to negotiate, they will call a general strike on January 19.
Soros blamed
Government spokesman Istvan Hollik repeated the government's claim that Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros is funding protests against the labor law. The Hungarian regime often accuses Soros of devious anti-government plots.
Protesters also brought up other grievances with Orban's government, such as concerns about threats to the rule of law, the curtailment of academic and press freedom, and political corruption.
Read more: Thousands of Hungarians march in Budapest in support of press freedom
kw/amp (AP, dpa)