Slovak Towns Union Criticizes State Over May 8th Holiday Chaos

The Union of Towns of Slovakia (ÚMS) has voiced strong criticism regarding the state's handling of the May 8th holiday, arguing that the government's decisions have created significant legal uncertainty and organizational headaches for municipalities across the country. The core of the issue lies in the state's failure to provide clear, systemic solutions, leaving towns and cities to navigate complex situations, particularly concerning schools and kindergartens under their purview.

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Rozhodnutie štátu prenieslo na mestá právnu neistotu, organizačné komplikácie aj ďalší tlak na ich rozpočty.

As Daniela Piršelová, the spokesperson for ÚMS, explained, the Ministry of Education's guidance offers multiple options for schools, but none are without complications. If schools and kindergartens remain operational, municipalities, as the founders, face increased wage costs for employees, for which their budgets are not prepared. Conversely, if these institutions are closed, their directors must manage the administrative burden of communicating with parents and processing claims for childcare benefits from the Social Insurance Agency.

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Z usmernenia ministerstva školstva vyplýva, že školy môžu postupovať viacerými spôsobmi, no štát neposkytol jasné a systémové riešenie,“ pripomenula Piršelová, poukazujúc aj na to, že zvolený spôsob prinesie tak či tak komplikácie.

This situation places an unfair burden on local governments, which are now tasked with finding the least painful solutions for all involved. ÚMS emphasizes that towns will continue to approach this issue individually, based on their own assessments. The union recommends utilizing the 'obstacle on the employer's side' mechanism for cases where municipal offices or institutions are closed, a measure designed to protect both employers and employees.

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Ak školy a škôlky ostanú v prevádzke, vznikajú mestám, ako zriaďovateľom, zvýšené mzdové náklady, na ktoré nemajú v rozpočtoch zdroje.

Looking ahead, ÚMS expects the state to act with greater responsibility when making decisions that impact all employers, including local governments. The union insists that when the state makes mistakes, it should not feign ignorance but rather proactively seek fair and workable solutions. The current predicament highlights a recurring problem: the state often makes decisions without fully considering the practical implications for the municipalities tasked with implementing them, leading to unnecessary stress and financial strain on local communities.

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Ak sa školy a škôlky zatvoria, ich riaditelia musia zabezpečiť komunikáciu s rodičmi a ďalšiu administratívnu záťaž, pokiaľ si rodičia uplatnia nárok na OČR v Sociálnej poisťovni,“ vysvetlila Piršelová.