Slovak PM Fico Criticizes Employers Over Lunch Break Proposal, Business Groups Push Back

Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused employers of wanting to shorten lunch breaks to 15 minutes, a claim that business representatives strongly deny. According to the Confederation of Trade Unions (RÚZ), the proposal actually came from state-owned transport companies and involved splitting the existing 30-minute lunch break into two shorter pauses rather than reducing the total time. Business groups say Fico is using this criticism to deflect attention from opposition to the government's economic measures package, which includes new taxes and regulatory changes. In response to the government's proposals, employers have suggested eliminating the transaction tax, introducing a flat tax rate, and simplifying VAT rates as alternative economic reforms.