Foreign Minister Slams Austrian Aid Decision
- 3 May 2018 9:07 AM
- Hungary Around the Clock
The Austrian government’s latest decision to reduce family allowances for foreign workers is unfair to Hungarian families, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a statement sent to state news agency MTI..
Despite EU protests, the Austrian government has decided that the allowances will be adjusted to the price level of the country in which the child of the job taker working in Austria resides.
The new regulations could take effect from 2019 if approved by Parliament. As a result of the measure, slightly more than €93 a month will be paid per child who lives in Hungary, rather than the current €172. The Austrian government will save an estimated €100 million a year with the measure.
The decision will affect about 39,000 Hungarian children, according to official data.
Hungary’s government “will in each and every case act against anybody who proceeds against Hungarians in an unfair manner,” Szijjártó said.
“Austria is an important partner of ours. It is an important ally on a number of issues, but we have a serious dispute with it on this matter.
We do not accept that Hungarians should receive less family allowance than Austrians do once they meet all their obligations such as paying taxes and social insurance contributions – identical commitments,” Szijjártó said.
MTI photo: FM
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