BackA nine-month inquiry of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has revealed improprieties constituting an infringement of the requirement of legal certainty and violating basic rights of persons in community employment. In his report Máté Szabó has urged the competent ministries to the early implementation of several measures to eliminate problems and improprieties concerning the regulation on community employment and its application.
Concerning participation in the community employment scheme, the inquiry found that considerations of jobseekers in a poor social situation are hardly noticed. The dominant position of the employers and the uncertainty resulting from the lack of a precise procedure constitute an infringement of legal certainty and hinder the promotion of equal opportunities. The ombudsman has pointed out that the weekly payment system was contested by all parties concerned and it raises concerns over several aspects. The report also states that the minimum-wage setting is discriminating since it fixed lower minimum wages for persons in community employment than it is required under the general provisions.
Community employment is not an end in itself, but is a means of employment policy which may facilitate workers in vulnerable situation to re-enter primarily labour market with offering them adequate training programmes – the ombudsman stated. The report emphasizes that it is a constitutional requirement to add further guarantees to regulations on community employment instead of dismantling traditional labour law regulations protecting workers’ rights.
Source: COMMISSIONER FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF HUNGARY
The complete press release and the full report (in Hungarian) can be found here.
