Thousands join public workers' union strike in Hungary

BUDAPEST, March 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 7,500 civil servants participated in a nationwide strike in Hungary on Thursday called by the Trade Union of Hungarian civil Servants and Public Employees (MKKSZ).

"When a country's workers are exercising their democratic rights, it is an important element of the functioning of a society," said MKKSZ President Mrs. Peter Boros.

MKKSZ is the "interest representation and protection organization of the national and local administration; institutions, economic and civil organizations financed from the national budget."

The strike came in response to a recent modification of the labor law, which increased civil servants' working hours from 8 hours to 9 hours per day, and cut the number of holidays by 5 working days per year effective March 1 this year.

At Thursday noon, striking civil servants marched to the building of Parliament in Budapest and vowed to stage a large demonstration on May 1, International Workers' Day.

Several strikes have been held in Hungary since the adoption in December of 2018 of a new labor law, which critics called "Slave Law" and which allows employers to demand up to 400 hours overtime per year.

The largest such labor action was staged in January by the employees of the Hungarian plant of German carmaker Audi.