Hungary’s new labor law sparks backlash

By Mehmet Yilmaz

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AA) - Thousands of Hungarians went to the streets on Saturday to protest against a controversial labor law, local media reported.

The law on overtime, dubbed “slave law” increases the amount of overtime that employers can request from 250 to 400 hours.

Young workers “don’t want to live in a country where people are at the mercy of their employer and where wages fail to provide a livelihood,” Nikoletta Kiss of the Young People for Democracy told a huge crowd gathered in front of the Varkert Bazaar in Budapest, the Daily News Hungary reported.

Introduced by the ruling Fidesz party, the “slave law” came into force in Jan. 1.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his ruling Fidesz party has had a two-thirds majority since 2010.