Parallel to the exceptional economic crisis management meetings (*HU0901019I* [1]), the National Interest Reconciliation Council (Országos Érdekegyeztető Tanács, OÉT) carried out its customary task of negotiating the national minimum wage and making recommendations for the annual wage hikes in the
In October 2008, Hungary was strongly hit by the financial crisis due to the country’s level of indebtedness – including high-level debts amassed by the population, mainly in Swiss Franc, and the sudden collapse of consumer demand. The popularity of the Swiss Franc denominated loans was partly due
The referendum on abolishing medical and higher education fees was initiated by the two major opposition parties – the Alliance of Young Democrats–Hungarian Civic Party (Fiatal Demokraták Szövetsége–Magyar Polgári Szövetség, FIDESZ-MPSZ [1]) and the Christian Democratic Peoples’ Party (Keresztény
The Hungarian Economic and Social Council (Gazdasági és Szociális Tanács, GSZT [1]) was set up in August 2004 as a consultative forum to discuss major national-level strategic plans and programmes for the medium and long term (*HU0501105F* [2]). GSZT comprises the social partners, including all
The reform of Hungary’s health insurance system was originally proposed by the junior coalition partner, the Alliance of Free Democrats (Szabad Demokraták Szövetsége, SZDSZ [1]), in 2006. Although its negotiation was put on hold due to the general elections in May of that year, and later on due to
The healthcare bill is part of a series of government measures that aim to reduce the budget deficit by attempting to create more customer-oriented but also cost-effective public services. The proposed healthcare reform seeks to partially privatise the management of the health insurance system
The Trade Union Federation of Electricity Workers (Villamosenergia-ipari Dolgozók Szakszervezeti Szövetsége, VDSZSZ [1]) represents employees of power plants and electricity distribution companies. The trade union, which until 1990 was part of the Metalworkers’ Union (Vasas Szakszervezeti Szövetség
Budapest Transport Company (Budapest Közlekedési Vállalat, BKV [1]) is responsible for providing public transport services for Budapest, a city of nearly two million inhabitants, and for a further half a million commuters. BKV employs almost 13,000 people and carries about seven million passengers a
A central element of the Hungarian industrial relations system is the annual negotiation at the National Interest Reconciliation Council (Országos Érdekegyeztető Tanács, OÉT) on minimum wages and wage recommendations for the following year, which also provides a recommendation for wage increases to
The European Council did not consider Hungary’s convergence programme, submitted in December 2005, to be acceptable and therefore invited the Hungarian government to present an adjusted programme by 1 September 2006. The Council requested that the programme should outline firm structural measures