Workers at Slovak Defense Contractor Faced Financial Hardship Despite Firm Holding €140 Million Military Contract

Employees of Way Industries, a Slovak defense company based in Krupina, were left struggling financially even as their employer held a major €140 million contract with Slovakia's Defense Ministry — headed by Minister Robert Kaliňák. Workers had reportedly not received their full wages, creating serious financial difficulties for staff at the company. After the Slovak daily SME raised questions about the situation, Way Industries began paying the outstanding wages owed to its employees. The company's failure to meet payroll obligations came despite its lucrative position as a defense contractor benefiting directly from state military spending. The case raises questions about the oversight of major state contracts and worker protections within companies that profit from government defense expenditure. Robert Kaliňák, who leads the Defense Ministry and whose ministry is the source of the contract, leads Slovakia's defense policy under the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico — a administration that has faced repeated scrutiny over the management of public funds and state procurement. The episode highlights a broader concern about whether companies awarded large government contracts are meeting their basic obligations to their own workforce.