The opposition LMP party had called for gaps between wage scales in various areas of Hungary’s public sector to be eliminated, saying wages in the social sector “are humiliating”.
In various public sector areas, people with the same level of education should receive the same wages, regardless of whether they work in the social sector, education or health, party lawmaker Péter Ungár told a press conference on Monday.
Ungár said the government had left wages for social workers essentially unchanged over the past ten years and only supplemental pay had been amended. He raised the example of a special needs teacher “who makes 120,000 forints (EUR 375) net a month”.
The green party politician said the introduction of a minimum wage for skilled workers had only further exacerbated wage tensions.
In response to a question, Ungár confirmed the existence of conflicts between LMP and the European Greens. He added, however, that the relationship “can still be described as harmonious” compared to that of ruling Fidesz and the European People’s Party.
featured photo by Zsolt Szigetváry/MTI