Citizens of Hungary Rise Up in Their Thousands Over EU 'Slave Law'
Oppressive new law will force citizens into crippling working hours
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Thousands of angry Hungarian took the streets of Budapest in a massive revolt against an oppressive EU backed “slave law” that will allow employers to pressure workers into crippling overtime.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s new law which is backed by the EU, has invoked mass criticism.
Hungarian workers and unions posted throughout the capital shouting “free country!” and stopping traffic as they marched towards the headquarters of Mr. Orban’s ruling Fidesz party to demand he scraps the new labor law.
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The legislation, which has been dubbed the slave law”, caused a massive revolt amongst citizens as they blocked the main bridge while waving flags with hackled farm animals on.
Letters have been sent to EU figureheads Jean-Claude Juncker, Donald Tusk and Antonio Tajani, demanding they rethink the law.
One read:
“We call on you, as prominent figures in the European People’s Party, to demand that the party’s leaders take immediate action to uphold the fundamental principles on which both the EPP and the EU itself are based and make it clear that there is no room in the EPP for parties like Fidesz.”
One member of the Hungarian Steel Workers trade union, Gabor Guzslovan, said he has never seen” the kind of “obstruction and complete chaos” in the country.
1000 maybe 2000 young angry protesters at parliament, tense, note similar standoffs in recent years have all ended w police restraint & protesters eventually give up, let's see pic.twitter.com/DG7gIlnP75
— Peter Murphy (@MurphyPeterN) December 12, 2018
MUST WATCH: As the National Assembly of Hungary descends into chaos, opposition MP Bence Tordai rolls up on PM Orban and trolls him to his face. This is unprecedented. Orban is visibly uncomfortable. He was not counting on this. #Hungary pic.twitter.com/C8XCKN9A6G
— Benjamin Novak (@b_novak) December 12, 2018
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Hungary’s opposition parties obstructed the peaker’s podium, as many shouted in parliament to prevent the law being passed.
The controversial amendment increases the maximum annual overtime hours that employers can expect to almost double from 250 to 400 hours, tripling the period for determining overtime to three years.
Despite the protests from Hungarian citizens, the law was passed by a 130-52 vote.
The ruling has been slammed by trade unions in Hungary as it gives power to employers to negotiate hours directly with workers without having to answer to unions.
Workers and unions have declared they will today go on strike in an additional protest of the amendment
Vice chairman of the Vasas ironworkers union, Zoltan Laszlo, said: "We are all upset about the way things are going in this country.
"This government makes laws with scant consultation of those affected.
"Our health status is already abysmal. People who make these kinds of laws work against society.
“We'll show them that we can take our fate into our own hands. We are willing to turn a lot harsher."
