Zeman brings unions’ demands on minimum wage down

After meeting with President Miloš Zeman on Monday, representatives of the Bohemian-Moravia Confederation of Trade Unions have agreed to lower their demands on raising the minimum wage. Although the union representatives were previously asking to bring the minimum monthly wage up from eight to nine thousand crowns, President Zeman convinced them to agree to a hike of 500 crowns. The decision on the issue, though, depends primarily on the government and parliament. Mr Zeman and the head of the confederation, Jaroslav Zavadil, have good relations, and the new president agreed to help broker better ties between the government and unions.