WAVE OF DISMISSALS UNTIL THE END OF NEXT YEAR

Massive layoffs go on in state owned companies: the reform of the railway, post, and the army will result in the dismissal of several thousand people until the end of 2006.

The Ministry of Labour has informed the parliamentary committee about the plan. The Hungarian Railway Company (MÁV) will have to dismiss almost 20 pc of its workers, the Hungarian Post Company has already dismissed almost 6 000 people since the change of government and in several parts of the country mobile post offices started to work.

The Hungarian army will be reduced to 29 000 from the present 31 700. The opposition criticizes the plan as they claim instead of reforms there are only reductions and the affected people get no help how to go on.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó