Hungarian unions have voiced strong criticism against a decision by European Union ministers earlier this week to allow employees to work more than 48 hours a week.
The EU ended a four-year deadlock on Tuesday, agreeing to allow employees to work up to 60-65 hours a week if they choose to do so. The standard workweek will remain capped at 48 hours, but that cap can be breached if employers and workers sign a written agreement.
Unions have also denounced decisions giving temporary employees the same working conditions as full-time employees in terms of sick pay, holidays and maternity leave after 12 weeks on the job, and mandating that inactive on-call time, typical among health workers, should only be considered work if national laws or unions agree.
Hungarian rules limit weekly work hours, including overtime, to 48 hours.
According to the Liga union federation, overtime above the current limit has negative social and health implications for employees, who have little power to defend their rights against employers. The union also said that the new rules would harm employment, as job openings in Hungary are already scarce.
Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, and Spain have led the opposition to the changes, with Hungary in favor of limiting opt-out room and the granting of derogation periods for member states.