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Hungary (HU)
Employment
In 2006 companies with more than 5 employees had a total of 93,900 workers, thereof 7.5 % being part-time workers.
International Comparison of Employment
Wages and Labour Costs
Compared with other industries in the country the wages in agriculture are amongst the lowest. In 2006 the gross wage was HUF 111,978 (= € 458) per month, i. e. 65 % of the national average, and the net wage was HUF 82,110 per month, or 74 % of the average. In addition there is a wage level gradient, i. e. a negative influence of regional unemployment and of the regional wage level.
Deductions from the wage (employee):
- - pension insurance: 8.5 %
- - welfare insurance: 7.0 %
- - employer contribution: 1.5 %
- - income tax up to HUF 1.700.000 per year: 18.00 %; above that: 36,0 %
Contributions of the employer:
- - pension insurance: 21.0 %
- - welfare insurance: 8.0 %
- - health insurance: HUF 1,950 per month per person
- - training contribution: 1.5 %
- - employer contribution: 3.0 %
There are collective agreements in about 20 % of the agricultural companies. They apply to about 50,000 persons, which is a reach of about 50 % of the total number of employees.
International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs
Working Time
The full working time is 8 hours per day in a six-day week, i. e. 48 hours per week. In extraordinary cases the working time can be longer than 12 hours per day or 48 hours per week.
The daily working time must not be less than 4 hours (except part-time workers).
Based on the daily working time the working time for seasonal work may be defined for at least 2 months and a maximum of four months. According to the collective agreement a 4-month period may be used, and under the industry collective agreement even 6 months are possible in cases specified by the law.
When working periods are used the working time distribution may be uneven, but the average has to be the full working time.
International Comparison of Working Time
Leave and Paid Holidays
The length of the basic holiday is 20 days, which increases in steps between the age of 25 and 45 until it is 30 days. The law defines the number of paid public holidays, a maximum of 10 days per year.
International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays
Social Insurance
Hungary has a state welfare insurance system.
Occupational Health and Safety
Fatal accidents in agriculture in 2006: 16
Number of accidents rendering workers unfit for work for more than 3 days: 1,064 in 2006 (men: 890, women: 174).
In comparison with the other 14 industries agriculture was on rank 6 in 2006.
The most frequent cause of fatal accidents is non-compliance with safety provisions, such as failure to use personal drop-protection equipment, etc.
In Hungary every worker has to undergo a doctor's examination of his fitness for work before taking on a job and in regular intervals thereafter.
International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
In 7 regions there are 180 grassroots organisations. They are led by the regional committees with one independent region leader each.
International Comparison of Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
The statutory minimum wage for 2007 is HUF 65,500 per month per person. It has been laid down in a tri-partite process and published in a Ministry decree. Every employer has to comply with it. Employees working full-time must not be paid a lower monthly wage. This obligation is very important in agriculture where about 50 % of the workers earn the minimum wage.
International Comparison of Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation
Companies with more than 50 employees must elect a works council. Companies with 15 to 50 employees have to elect a company representative. Trade unions may put forwards candidates for elections in companies.
In every company that employs union members there is also a company trade union organisation.
Through our union confederation we are indirectly involved in the work of the pension committee (Nyugdíjbiztosítási Ellenőrző Testület).
There is no separate unemployment insurance. Employers pay 3 %, employees pay 1.5 % of the gross wage into the employee fund (Munkaerőpiaci Alap), which also finances the benefit system for unemployed workers. Indirectly we are involved in the administration of the employee fund through the confederation.
The trade unions may be represented in commercial courts by lay judges.
International Comparison of Trade Union Participation
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