employment
March 11, 2010, 09:34 CET
Outlook of big companies worsens slightly in February, research shows
The outlook of Hungary's biggest companies worsened slightly in February, while that of SMEs continued to improved, the latest measure of confidence by economic research institute Ecostat shows. Ecostat's TOP-100 measure of confidence at the country's biggest hundred companies fell... [read complete entry]
March 08, 2010, 09:46 CET
College, university students call Audi Hungaria "most attractive workplace"
Audi Hungaria has been named "most attractive workplace" in a survey of university and college students for the second time, the Hungarian unit of German car maker Audi told MTI on Friday. The survey was conducted by AISEC of 5,000... [read complete entry]
March 05, 2010, 09:41 CET
PM stresses importance of restoring prestige of work
Hungary's future depends on whether we can restore the prestige of work, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in a lecture at the Széchenyi István University in Győr on Thursday. The premier said 56-57% of Hungary's working age population are in... [read complete entry]
March 03, 2010, 09:49 CET
Analysts say parties offer similar prescriptions for Hungary's ills
Tax cuts and employment growth are the main prescriptions offered by Hungary's major political parties to cure the country's lackluster competitiveness and its social ills. Gordon Bajnai, who is standing down as prime minister, has been a cheerleader for tax... [read complete entry]
March 01, 2010, 03:35 CET
Labor police working overtime as belt-tightening employers seen turning the screws on overworked employees
No doubt because of the ongoing crisis, an increasing number of employers in Hungary are believed to be violating regulations on work hours, forcing workers to do unpaid overtime. A recent piece on origo.hu illustrates the trend with the case... [read complete entry]
March 01, 2010, 09:43 CET
Think tank GKI projects recession could end in Q1
Hungary's recession could end in the first quarter of 2010, although the economy will probably stagnate during the year, economic think tank GKI said in its latest projection prepared with the cooperation of Erste Bank. GKI projects industrial output will... [read complete entry]
March 01, 2010, 09:37 CET
Hungary unemployment rate likely to peak around 11%, analysts say
Hungary's unemployment rate is likely to rise further in the coming months, peaking around 11pc in the middle of the year, analysts told MTI on Friday after the Central Statistics Office (KSH) published fresh data. Hungary's average unemployment rate was... [read complete entry]
February 26, 2010, 10:00 CET
Hungary unemployment rate rises to 10.8% in Nov-Jan
Hungary's average unemployment rate was 10.8pc in November-January, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said on Friday. In October-December the rate was 10.5pc, unchanged from September-November. The number of unemployed in the 15-74 age group grew to 456,000 in November-January from... [read complete entry]
February 23, 2010, 09:40 CET
Hungary's prime minister urges tax cuts, competitiveness
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on Monday urged the next government to cut taxes and social contributions with an emphasis on reducing labour taxes in order to boost Hungary's economic competitiveness. Addressing the last session of parliament before the April general... [read complete entry]
February 16, 2010, 09:20 CET
Philips offers jobs in Hungary to laid-off French workers
Philips offered jobs in Hungary to the 280 employees of its plasma TV set factory in Dreux, France, when it informed them by letter on Saturday that the plant is to be closed from Monday. The union has gone to... [read complete entry]
February 15, 2010, 10:41 CET
Number of new workplaces doubles to 30,000 in January
Hungarian companies registered 30,000 new workplaces with labour offices in January, more than double the number in December, fresh data from the State Employment Service (AFSZ) show. Two-thirds of the new workplaces were supported by state subsidies.... [read complete entry]
February 15, 2010, 10:39 CET
Pannon GSM to lay off 250 people
Telenor unit Pannon GSM, Hungary's second-biggest mobile telephone service provider, plans to lay off 250 people, including 200 employees and 50 contracted workers, the company told MTI on Friday. Pannon wants to cut payroll costs by HUF 1.9bn in 2010... [read complete entry]
February 11, 2010, 09:38 CET
Hungarian men earn a third more than women, survey reveals
Hungarian men in the 35-44 age group earn over a third more than women of the same age, according to a survey by Workmania published on Wednesday. Among the 35-44s, men earn an average gross monthly 250,400 forints (EUR 920)... [read complete entry]
February 05, 2010, 10:53 CET
Figures show over 30,000 jobs created in Hungary in January
There were 30,100 new workplaces created in Hungary in January, 108pc more than in December 2009, and up 157.2pc yr/yr, the latest figures from the National Employment Service (AFSZ) show. There were 26,500 jobs still open in January. The number... [read complete entry]
February 04, 2010, 09:48 CET
Staff of 700 to work for Hungarian EU presidency
Hungary will employ a staff of 700 to work under the Hungarian EU presidency in the first half of 2011, mainly civil servants already dealing with EU affairs, the Foreign Ministry told MTI on Wednesday. Spain, Belgium and Hungary are... [read complete entry]
February 02, 2010, 09:25 CET
Opposition Fidesz slams gov't for six-year civil-servant contracts
Opposition Fidesz - tipped to form the next government after the April elections - rejects the Socialist government's appointment of civil servants for six years, Fidesz MP Robert Repassy told a news conference on Monday. Repassy said that the Socialists... [read complete entry]
January 29, 2010, 10:07 CET
Hungary unemployment rate in Q4 stable at 10.5%
Hungary's three-month rolling unemployment rate was stable at 10.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday. The jobless rate was 8 percent in the same period a year earlier. The number of... [read complete entry]
January 28, 2010, 10:17 CET
Labour Ministry to launch Ft 500 million job preservation program
The Ministry of Welfare and Labour Affairs on Wednesday said it will launch a HUF 500m job preservation programme on February 1. The ministry wants to preserve 3,500-4,000 jobs with the programme, similar to last year The programme aims to... [read complete entry]
January 25, 2010, 10:43 CET
Employers propose amendment to Hungary's strike law
Employers' representatives proposed an amendment to Hungary's strike laws and the creation of a code of conduct at a plenary meeting of the National Interest-coordination Council on Friday. Budapest Transport Company (BKV) managers accused employees at the company of having... [read complete entry]
January 22, 2010, 10:12 CET
MTV denies plan to dismiss 400 personnel
MTV yesterday rejected a Népszabadság report that it plans to dismiss 400 personnel. Vice president Balázs Medveczky said the state TV network will reduce the number of those with exorbitant salaries. The newspaper said it had learned of a plan... [read complete entry]
January 19, 2010, 09:49 CET
Unions sign wage agreement with MÁV
All six unions of national railway company MÁV Zrt have signed a collective contract for 2010, and five also signed a wage agreement, reports Napi Gazdaság. While VDSzSz Szolidaritás did not sign the latter, it said it would not attack... [read complete entry]
January 14, 2010, 10:53 CET
Gov't to spend Ft 2 billion to create and preserve jobs in 2010
The government will spend HUF 2bn (EUR 7.49m) in Labour Market Fund resources on job creation and job preservation in 2010, Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs State Secretary Gabor Simon said. The government has earmarked HUF 1.5bn in support... [read complete entry]
January 12, 2010, 08:18 CET
Number of registered job-seekers rises as number of new jobs falls
The number of new job vacancies reported by employers fell more than 19c in December from November because of the crisis as well as seasonal factors, while the number of registered job-seekers continued to rise, figures published on the National... [read complete entry]
January 08, 2010, 11:36 CET
Hungarian postal service sacks workers for "illegal strike"
Magyar Posta yesterday sacked 29 postal workers with immediate effect for organising an unlawful strike and admonished all the 120 staff members who took part in the strike. Some 150 postal workers went on strike on December 22, ignoring management... [read complete entry]
January 07, 2010, 10:55 CET
Hungary unemployment rate expected to peak around 11%
Hungary's unemployment rate is likely to rise further in the coming months, peaking at around 11pc in Q1 or Q2, analysts told MTI on Wednesday, after fresh labour market data showed the rate rose to 10.5pc in September-November, a level... [read complete entry]
January 04, 2010, 09:44 CET
Harman International gets Ft 368 million subsidy for car stereo plant
Global leader in producing car sound-systems, Harman International of Stamford, Connecticut, has received a HUF 368m (EUR 1.37m) grant from the Hungarian government to develop its electronics plant in Szekesfehervar (C Hungary) with a planned investment of HUF 3.7bn, the... [read complete entry]
December 30, 2009, 10:36 CET
Government to offer new employment incentive
The government will start allowing Hungarians who lose their jobs during the crisis to "take with them" any assistance to an employer that creates a new job, social policy minister Peter Kiss said on Tuesday. Any assistance still due to... [read complete entry]
December 30, 2009, 10:19 CET
Nielsen survey finds job security topping Hungarians' concerns
Job security is the biggest worry among Hungarians, according to a survey by market researcher Nielsen. In all, 23% of respondents mentioned jobs as their biggest concern, followed by their children’s education and career, as well as rising energy prices,... [read complete entry]
December 23, 2009, 10:38 CET
Number of officially registered employees seen increasing in 2010
After a 70,000 drop in 2009, the number of registered employees in Hungary could increase by 12,000 next year, Hungary's Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs (SZMM) and the Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Trade (MKIK) told the press based... [read complete entry]
December 22, 2009, 09:09 CET
Philips Hungary begins layoffs at television unit
Philips Hungary Kft laid off more than 30 regular employees in November and December from its Szekesfehervar unit producing television sets, and 300 outsourced workers did not have their contracts extended, the union operating at the company told MTI on... [read complete entry]
December 15, 2009, 08:55 CET
Employers splash out on holiday gift vouchers as gov't Grinches prepare 98% tax for new year
This year, Hungarian employers are seen expanding their giving of gift vouchers to employees as Christmas bonuses by 10%, writes napiingatlan.hu, based on data collected by Sodexo Pass Hungária Kft. In addition, 8% more employers chose this form of bonus.... [read complete entry]
December 14, 2009, 11:27 CET
PM concedes unemployment to continue rising over next six months
Unemployment will continue to rise over the next six months, both in Europe and in Hungary, as the crisis is not yet over, Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said at a press conference after an EU summit in Brussels on... [read complete entry]
December 11, 2009, 09:57 CET
General Electric, unions reach agreement on severance pay for laid-off employees
General Electric (GE) has reached an agreement with unions on severance pay and support services for staff laid off because of a restructuring at its lighting division in Hungary, GE told MTI on Thursday. The agreement is valid for two... [read complete entry]
December 10, 2009, 10:06 CET
Fidesz to establish new budget, tax system if party forms government next year
A new budget, new tax system and new employment policy will be established in Hungary next July if current opposition party Fidesz forms the country's next government, Fidesz economic policy maker Gyorgy Matolcsy told MTI on Thursday. The new government... [read complete entry]
December 10, 2009, 10:03 CET
German companies in Hungary expect employment demand to rise in 2010
A total of 40pc of German companies operating in Hungary expect demand for employees to rise in 2010, while only 5pc expect their labour demand to decline next year, Chief Consultant Maria Smid of Vienna's Kienbaum Management Consultants told the... [read complete entry]
December 09, 2009, 10:17 CET
Flextronics inaugurates new plant in W Hungary
Flextronics inaugurated a new plant in Sarvar (W Hungary) on Tuesday, creating 500 new jobs. The plant will produce computers, servers and workstation products for Lenovo. Flextronics Computing president Sean Burke emphasised at the opening ceremony that they are looking... [read complete entry]
December 09, 2009, 10:08 CET
One-fifth of Hungarian employers plan layoffs next year
Almost one-fifth of Hungarian employers plan to cut staff in the first quarter of 2010, according to a survey by global staffing company Manpower. While 19 percent of the 750 employers surveyed by Manpower said they would reduce staff, just... [read complete entry]
December 08, 2009, 09:01 CET
Fees likely to increase at Hungary's voluntary pension funds
Voluntary pension funds may not be able to avoid increasing deductions from members' payments, leaving less for pensions, the business daily Napi Gazdasag said on Monday. Currently, most funds take 10pc or less of their members' payments for operating and... [read complete entry]
December 04, 2009, 12:26 CET
Survey finds telecommuting in Hungary far below EU average
Telecommuting jobs account for 4.5-5pc of all jobs in Hungary, a proportion just one-third of the European Union average, state secretary at the Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs Gabor Simon said on Thursday. About HUF 3bn in funding has... [read complete entry]
December 03, 2009, 01:36 CET
Government to launch Ft 13 billion public works programs
The government will launch six public work programmes with combined funding of HUF 13bn (EUR 47.63m) beginning in January, Ministry of Social and Employment Affairs State Secretary Gabor Simon said on Wednesday. The programmes are expected to involve 25,000 job-seekers... [read complete entry]
December 02, 2009, 12:33 CET
Hungarian employees seen fearful of claiming days off
Hungarian employees are given more days off than most of their European peers, but many are reluctant to take the full amount for fear of losing their jobs, Nepszabadsag daily said on Wednesday. Hungarians are able take off between 20... [read complete entry]
December 02, 2009, 10:25 CET
Employers, unions agree on raising minimum wage to Ft 73,500
The National Interest Reconciliation Council (OÉT) of employer, union and government represntatives, set next year’s monthly minimum wage at Ft 73,500, up from the present Ft 71,500, at its Tuesday meeting. The minimum wage for skilled workers will rise from... [read complete entry]
November 27, 2009, 10:27 CET
Flextronics hires 900 new workers at Hungarian plant
The Singapore-based electronics company Flextronics has hired 900 new employees at its plant in Zalaegerszeg (W Hungary), the newspaper Zalai Hirlap reported on Friday. The company hired the new workers as a result of a recent increase in orders, notably... [read complete entry]
November 26, 2009, 11:31 CET
State to use EU support to help sacked GE workers find new jobs
The government will use support from the European Union's European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to assist employees of General Electric's lighting division in Hungary who will be laid off, the Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs said on Tuesday. GE Hungary... [read complete entry]
November 26, 2009, 11:27 CET
Unemployment hits new peak of 10.4% in August-October
Hungary's average unemployment rate was 10.4pc in August-October after 10.3pc in July-September and 9.9pc in June-August, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said on Thursday. The average unemployment rate was 7.7pc in August-October last year. After slightly lower rates in the... [read complete entry]
November 25, 2009, 11:58 CET
Survey of recruitment ads finds big demand for second languages
Command of a second language, most frequently English, is stipulated as a condition in 68 percent of online job advertisements posted in Hungary, the latest survey of Workania.hu showed. The survey based on thousands of ads demonstrated that 64 percent... [read complete entry]
November 24, 2009, 09:15 CET
Fears that new rules on hiring temporary workers will backfire
A new electronic-based system for tracking temporary workers is likely to discourage legal employment rather than regularize it, writes Népszabadság. Starting in January, employers in Hungary will be obliged to electronically submit all data on temporary workers - including the... [read complete entry]
November 23, 2009, 09:27 CET
Number of layoffs decreasing; fewer firms seen planning staff cuts
Only 10pc of businesses in Hungary said they planned to make layoffs in the next three months, a DGS Global Research survey shows. DGS conducted the survey in November. The number of layoffs dropped 70pc since reaching a pinnacle in... [read complete entry]
November 09, 2009, 05:06 CET
Survey finds half of Hungarians willing to switch jobs for 20% raise
Half of workers in Hungary said they would switch employers if offered a 20 percent higher salary, according to a representative on-line survey conducted by Ipsos at the end of October. The summary said 72 percent of employees are very... [read complete entry]
November 09, 2009, 08:31 CET
Employers, unions remain deadlocked over proposed rise in minimum wage
Employers offered to raise the monthly minimum wage from HUF 71,500 to HUF 73,000 next year at a Friday meeting of the National Interest Coordination Council (OET), a forum for employers, unions and the government, but unions said they wanted... [read complete entry]
November 09, 2009, 08:29 CET
Mass layoffs seen easing, but new jobs remain scarce in Hungary
Companies announced mass layoffs affecting 34,500 people in January-October 2009 at labour centres, two-third of them in manufacturing, according to October figures published on the website of the State Employment Service (AFSZ). The number of employees to be laid off... [read complete entry]
November 03, 2009, 09:58 CET
Wallis Watch (II): No salary caps for PM's former colleagues
While Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai is making a big show about reducing the compensation of executives at state-owned firms, conservative daily Magyar Nemzet charges that the campaign has spared people he previously worked with at the Wallis Group, which Bajnai... [read complete entry]
November 03, 2009, 09:19 CET
Study confirms Hungary's continuing domination of regional biotech sector
Hungary continues dominates the biotechnology sector in the region, writes napi.hu, based on a survey by EuropaBio and Venture Valuation. The survey was conducted in the twelve countries that recently joined the European Union, plus Turkey and Croatia. The survey... [read complete entry]
November 02, 2009, 12:03 CET
GE Hungary used job-preservation grant to pay workers before layoffs
GE Hungary used the full amount of job-preservation subsidies it was eligible for to pay its workers, the company told MTI on Sunday, after a television news programme reported the company had won HUF 650m in job-preservation subsidies, but still... [read complete entry]
November 02, 2009, 10:15 CET
PM says crisis management to continue as jobless rate keeps rising
European Union heads of state and government agreed that the global economic crisis is not over until unemployment stops rising, Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told the press in Brussels on Friday, after the EU summit. He added that there... [read complete entry]
October 30, 2009, 11:52 CET
Gov't said to extend bus company's monopoly to avoid strike
Trade unions representing workers at long-distance bus company Volán will not hold strikes until the end of next year, while the government will extend the firm's public service contracts until the end of 2016, according to an agreement recently signed... [read complete entry]
October 30, 2009, 10:54 CET
Analysts say unemployment could peak at 11.5% in 2010
Unemployment could peak at 11pc at the end of 2009 and possibly at 11.5pc in the first months of 2010, analysts interviewed by MTI said, commenting on the latest unemployment figures on Thursday. Figures from the Central Statistics Office (KSH)... [read complete entry]
October 29, 2009, 10:08 CET
Survey finds sexism, ageism common on Hungarian job market
Middle-aged men have the least chance of finding work in Hungary, and half of the over-45s are rejected for job vacancies, a National Ethnic Minority Rights Protection Office sociological survey found. Young women are most likely to be offered non-skilled... [read complete entry]
October 29, 2009, 10:03 CET
GE Hungary announces plans to lay off more than 2,500
GE Hungary plans to lay off 2,570 people from its lighting division in Hungary over the next two years, GE Lighting's head for Europe Phil Marshall announced in Budapest on Wednesday. The layoffs remain a proposal until an agreement with... [read complete entry]
October 29, 2009, 09:52 CET
Hungary's jobless rate passes 10% in July-September
Hungary's average unemployment rate was 10.3 percent in July-September, up from 9.9 percent in June-August, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Thursday. The average unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in July-September a year earlier. After slightly lower rates in... [read complete entry]
October 28, 2009, 10:36 CET
BP to move 260 service-center jobs to Budapest from Germany
The oil giant British Petroleum is to move 260 jobs to Budapest after laying off hundreds of workers in Germany, MTI reported, quoting Wednesday's issue of the daily Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. We will move 260 jobs to Budapest next year... [read complete entry]
October 26, 2009, 10:21 CET
More Hungarian doctors seeking better careers abroad
An increasing number of Hungarian doctors are working abroad, where conditions and prospects are better, Nepszabadsag daily said on Monday. Besides higher salaries and living standards, better career prospects and higher respect afforded to them are motivating factors for moving... [read complete entry]
October 20, 2009, 08:40 CET
Majority of employers in Hungary expect to keep wages frozen in '10
A survey of employers in Hungary by DGS Global Research found that 57% plan to freeze their employees' salaries at the current level in 2010, writes nol.hu. The poll was conducted among 600 senior executives at firms accounting for roughly... [read complete entry]
October 20, 2009, 08:29 CET
Leading parliamentary parties not to push changes to strike law
Despite a repeated request by the ombudsman, the two biggest parliamentary groups - of the ruling Socialists and the main opposition Fidesz party - said on Monday that they would not initiate amendments to the strike law. Socialist MP Zsolt... [read complete entry]
October 13, 2009, 12:19 CET
Layoffs in Hungary more than double in first nine months of year
Hungarian job centres registered 32,800 layoffs in the first nine months of 2009, a 124 percent increase from the same period last year, when employers laid off 14,600 employees, the State Employment Service (AFSZ) said on Monday. The rest of... [read complete entry]
October 13, 2009, 09:48 CET
MP targets state-run job centers with bill to boost for-profit "brokers"
Hungary's state-run labour centres cannot effectively help the unemployed to jobs, the economic daily Napi Gazdasag said on Tuesday, referring to a bill submitted by liberal MP Janos Koka. The bill seeks to involve for-profit job brokers and ensure incentives... [read complete entry]
October 06, 2009, 10:31 CET
Survey finds Hungarians wary of moving abroad for work
About 12 percent of Hungarians said they considered moving to another European State for at least a short period, a job mobility survey seen by MTI on Monday said. Government research firm Ecostat's survey showed that men were more willing... [read complete entry]
September 29, 2009, 08:28 CET
Hungary jobless rate hits 9.9% in June-August
Hungary's average three-month rolling unemployment rate was 9.9 percent in the June-August period, up from 9.7 percent in May-July, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Monday. The jobless rate jumped from 7.5 percent in the same period a year... [read complete entry]
September 28, 2009, 09:39 CET
Ailing state broadcaster MTV axes external production deals
State television channel MTV is terminating all of its programmes that are made by independent production firms due to a lack of funds and will produce its own magazine programmes as of today. MTV’s flagship political talk show “Nap-kelte” aired... [read complete entry]
September 28, 2009, 09:22 CET
Crisis claims 90,000 jobs in Hungary, most in more developed regions
The global downturn has reduced the number of jobs in Hungary by net 90,000, mainly in more developed regions such as Central Transdanubia and Central Hungary, Social and Labour Affairs Minister Laszlo Herczog said on Friday. The country's unemployment rate... [read complete entry]
September 18, 2009, 10:57 CET
Analysts see continuing decline in real wages, more layoffs
July wage and employment data published early Thursday augur more layoffs and a continuing decline in real wages, analysts told MTI. Twelve-month gross wage growth in Hungary was 1.4pc in July, picking up from 1.1pc in June, the Central Statistics... [read complete entry]
September 16, 2009, 11:03 CET
Salaries of top state company executives revealed
The salaries of senior executives at state-owned companies and other institutions were made public yesterday, in keeping with a government decree. Most state firms revealed the wages and bonuses of their executives by the deadline of midnight last night. The... [read complete entry]
September 15, 2009, 09:48 CET
Employment ministry facing 10% budget cut in 2010
The 2010 budget outlines a 10 percent spending cut for the Welfare and Employment Ministry, minister Laszlo Herczog told the press on Monday. The cuts will be spread to affect energy household subsidies, though the circle of people receiving the... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 10:49 CET
Hungarian banking sector sheds 2,600 jobs in first half of 2009
Average staff numbers of Hungarian lending institutions slipped 8pc in the first six months of 2009 as banks shed some 2,600 jobs, business daily Vilaggazdasag reported on Monday, citing a study by financial market watchdog PSZAF: The average staff number... [read complete entry]
September 10, 2009, 10:23 CET
Survey finds Hungarian managers souring on non-wage compensation
About 23pc of company managers in Hungary said they would discontinue non-wage compensation, such as vacation and food vouchers, because of amendments to legislation that tax the form of payment at a higher rate, a survey by Publicus Research shows.... [read complete entry]
September 10, 2009, 10:10 CET
Mass layoffs at Hungarian firms fall by a third in August
Hungarian companies reported 2,300 mass layoffs to local labour offices in August, 1,200 fewer than in July, data compiled by the Employment and Social Affairs Office shows.... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 09:45 CET
Manpower expects further job losses in Hungary
Some 10% of Hungarian employers are planning new hires, but 14% anticipate further dismissals, temporary employment agency Manpower found in its survey. The outlook is worst in west Hungary, while new jobs are expected in Budapest, central and south-west Hungary.... [read complete entry]
August 31, 2009, 11:24 CET
Elcoteq promises to return Pécs workforce to 7,000
Pécs-based Finnish firm Elcoteq will soon employ 7,000 workers again, Socialist Speaker Katalin Szili said after she met the managers of the electronics manufacturer in Budapest. “Founder of Elcoteq Antii Piippo and chairman-CEO Jouni Hartikainen assured us that Elcoteq made... [read complete entry]
August 27, 2009, 10:15 CET
Budapest wages on par with... Bucharest
For once, you can be forgiven for mixing up the Hungarian and Romanian capitals as a report by global financial firm UBS reveals that Budapest wages are on the same level as those in much maligned city of Bucharest. Worse... [read complete entry]
August 25, 2009, 09:48 CET
Use of employer-issued vacation vouchers up 28%
Hungarians used more than HUF 21bn of vacation vouchers at commercial accommodations in 2008, up 28pc from the previous year to account for 9pc of the segment's total revenue, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said, citing data from the Hungarian... [read complete entry]
August 18, 2009, 09:51 CET
Fewer Hungarian SMEs plan non-wage compensation following tax changes
The percentage of Hungarian SMEs that plan to use non-wage compensation has fallen because of amendments to legislation that tax the form of payment at a higher rate, K and H Bank's latest SME confidence index shows. The percentage of... [read complete entry]
August 17, 2009, 08:41 CET
Poll finds Hungarian students largely unfazed by crisis
The most optimistic of students enrolled in Hungarian higher education about their employment opportunities were those studying military subjects, IT or law, a survey taken early in the summer and revealed on Friday said. The most pessimistic were agriculture students,... [read complete entry]
August 14, 2009, 10:50 CET
Large firms now eligible for EU job-preservation subsidies
Big companies can participate in the EU's 4+1 job-preservation programme from the end of August, National Development and Economy Ministry State Secretary Laszlo Varju said on Thursday. Employees of companies participating in the programme will receive a five-day salary, though... [read complete entry]
August 11, 2009, 09:58 CET
Finnish electronics manufacturer Elcoteq to lay off 700 at Hungarian unit
Finnish electronics maker Elcoteq will lay off 700 workers at its plants in the Hungarian city of Pecs at the end of September because of falling orders, communications director for Elcoteq's local unit Zoltan Krippl told MTI on Monday. Elcoteq... [read complete entry]
July 31, 2009, 09:40 CET
Workers fear legal change at GE Hungary presages drastic job cuts
Labour unions at GE Hungary have initiated talks with management as they fear the coming change in the legal status of the company from a joint stock company (Zrt.) to a limited liability company (Kft.) will mean drastic job cuts.... [read complete entry]
July 28, 2009, 09:36 CET
Ecostat predicts unemployment rate to reach 10.8% by year-end
Economic research institute Ecostat said on Monday it forecasts an average unemployment rate of 10.4pc in 2009 and 10.8pc in December, with 30,000 newly unemployed people during the year. Ecostat notes that most layoffs are generated by contracting exports, weak... [read complete entry]
July 24, 2009, 11:03 CET
Boards of Hungary's state-owned firms face more cuts in numbers, honoraria
The National Asset Management Council (NVT) on Wednesday decided to further cut honoraria to board members of state-run companies by a monthly HUF 35m from July, the State Asset Management Company (MNV) said on Thursday. The NVT also decided to... [read complete entry]
July 23, 2009, 08:44 CET
Official says Hungary's employment situation bright spot in region
The employment situation has continued to improve in Hungary, the Deputy Labour Minister told a news conference on Wednesday. The number of registered job seekers and the rate of unemployment has dropped, while the number of employed has increased, said... [read complete entry]
July 22, 2009, 09:34 CET
US-based Jabil Circuit to hire 600-700 following February layoffs
The US-based contract electronics manufacturer Jabil Circuit will hire 600-700 new workers at its plant in Tiszaujvaros (E Hungary) in order to begin the manufacture of new products, the regional newspaper Eszak-Magyarorszag reported on Tuesday. The CEO of Jabil Circuit's... [read complete entry]
July 13, 2009, 10:02 CET
Diósgyőr steelworks lays off almost all staffers
The Diosgyor Steel Works (NE Hungary) has decided to lay off all but 15-18 workers, head of the local union Jozsef Agotai told MTI on Friday. Most of the 704 workers of Diosgyor Steel Works (DAM 2004) received their final... [read complete entry]
July 10, 2009, 11:18 CET
Japan's Denso to lay off 800 at Hungarian unit
Japanese-owned car parts manufacturer Denso, based in Szekesfehervar (W Hungary) announced plans on Thursday to lay off 800 people by the end of September. The company is in talks with employees and encourages voluntary inclusion in the layoffs, in which... [read complete entry]
June 30, 2009, 09:37 CET
Confidence at big Hungarian firms drops in June; almost 50% plan layoffs
Confidence at Hungary's biggest companies deteriorated, while it stagnated at the country's SMEs, the latest measure of sentiment by Ecostat shows. At the same time, consumer confidence improved. Ecostat's TOP-100 measure of confidence at Hungary's biggest hundred companies slipped 8... [read complete entry]
June 29, 2009, 10:13 CET
Hungary's unemployment rate at 9.8% in March-May
Hungary's average unemployment rate was 9.8pc in March-May, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said on Monday. The unemployment rate was down from 9.9pc in February-April, and jumped from 7.7pc in the same period a year earlier. The rate was the... [read complete entry]
June 26, 2009, 10:42 CET
FM says 2009 gov't revenues off almost Ft 1 trillion; must slash tax burden
Finance Minister Peter Oszko on Thursday said that Hungary's tax revenue will fall by HUF 900bn (EUR 3.22bn) this year as compared to the autumn 2008 original budget plans, instead of a previously forecast shortfall of HUF 800bn. Hungary was... [read complete entry]
June 25, 2009, 10:37 CET
OECD says Hungarian economy to stage slow recovery in 2010
After a deep recession this year, Hungary's economy may slowly recover in 2010, an OECD analysis said on Wednesday. OECD expects Hungary's GDP to contract by 6.1 percent in 2009, to be followed by a 2.2 percent recession next year.... [read complete entry]
June 24, 2009, 10:58 CET
Vodafone inaugurates regional service center in Northeast Hungary
UK mobile communications service provider Vodafone inaugurated a HUF 600m (EUR 2.15m) regional customer service centre in Miskolc (NE Hungary) on Tuesday. The centre is expected to start operating at full capacity with a staff of more than 300 from... [read complete entry]
June 17, 2009, 09:51 CET
Illegal immigrants, foreign workers return home, free up jobs
Some 11,000-12,000 foreign guest workers, partly those illegally employed in Hungary started leaving for home due to the economic downturn, the business daily Napi Gazdasag reported on Wednesday, quoting statistics of the regional labour offices.... [read complete entry]
June 16, 2009, 09:05 CET
Market for student summer jobs hit hard by recession
Hungary's top agencies organizing work for students in the summer months have seen the market collapse in the wake of the recession. Representatives of Meló Diák, Fürge Diák, Pannon Work and Mind-Diák all told Napi Gazdaszág that demand for student... [read complete entry]
June 12, 2009, 02:43 CET
Denmark's Grundfos to lay off 200 in Hungary despite job-preservation subsidies
Danish pump and motor maker Grundfos is preparing to lay off 200 workers at its plants in the Hungarian cities of Tatabanya and Szekesfehervar, MTI learnt from an employee who wished to remain anonymous. The layoffs, to affect both plants... [read complete entry]
June 11, 2009, 08:17 CET
Hungarian firms place on Hewitt "best employers" list
Four big Hungarian companies and four SMEs have been included on lists of the best workplaces in the region compiled by consultancy Hewitt, business daily Vilaggazdasag reported on Wednesday. In the big companies section of Hewitt's Best Employers Study, four... [read complete entry]