Advertisement

Protests outside Hungarian parliament over labour reform criticized as ‘slave law’

Click to play video: 'Hungarians continue protest of so-called ‘slave law’'
Hungarians continue protest of so-called ‘slave law’
WATCH: Thousands of Hungarians continued their protests in Budapest on Thursday against new legislation over labour regulations, which some are calling a "slave law." – Dec 14, 2018

Around 2,000 Hungarians protested late on Wednesday outside parliament against new legislation allowing employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours per year of overtime, a reform its critics have dubbed the “slave law”.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban‘s ruling Fidesz party pushed the law through the legislature earlier in the day, using its big majority as opposition parties sought to block the vote.

Protesters shouting “Traitors, traitors” and “Orban go to hell” faced off against hundreds of police who stood on the steps of the parliament building.

A Reuters photographer said the crowd then moved towards a side gate, where some threw objects at police, who responded with pepper spray.

Story continues below advertisement

The changes to the labour code had already sparked a street protest at the weekend.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Orban has ruffled feathers in Europe and built a system his critics see as autocratic, affecting businesses, academia, the courts and the media, But he has rarely angered different domestic voter groups at the same time.

Police stand guard as people attend a protest against the new labour law in front of the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, December 12, 2018. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Sponsored content

AdChoices