Hungary: Industrial relations

Original author: PRK Partners Prague
Updating author: Kinga Zempléni

See the legal services provided by the author of International > Hungary, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Summary

• Trade unions have various entitlements at workplace level, and employees are protected from anti-union behaviour by employers. (See Trade unions)
• A trade union is entitled to negotiate a collective agreement with an employer if at least 10% of the employer's employees are members of the union. (See Collective bargaining and agreements)
• A works council, with information, consultation and other rights, must be elected by employees in undertakings or establishments with more than 50 employees. (See Works councils)
• Employers must inform and consult employee representatives on a range of issues, notably when they are planning any action affecting a large number of employees. (See Informing and consulting employees - general)
• An employer that plans to carry out a collective redundancy must observe an information and consultation procedure involving employee representatives and the public employment authorities. (See Informing and consulting prior to redundancies)
• In the event of a planned business transfer, the transferor and transferee must inform and, where necessary, consult employee representatives. (See Informing and consulting prior to transfers)
• "Community-scale" undertakings or groups of undertakings with headquarters in Hungary must, at the request of employees or their representatives, establish a special negotiating body to negotiate over the establishment of a European Works Council. (See European Works Councils)
• Employees and trade unions have a right to strike, although, before a strike is held, the dispute must be submitted to conciliation. (See Industrial action)