About 39,000 employees earn more than €5,875  per month and will therefore pay the new 30% and 35% income tax rates from January, calculated the fiscal responsibility council RRZ. The changes in income tax will have three times the impact on the top 1% of families with the highest incomes than on families in the first 97 percentiles. Income of the top 1% of families will decrease by 5% next year, mainly affecting highly skilled employees. ( RRZ )

The median gross income of Slovaks in Czechia  was €1,990 last year, compared with €1,692 for all employees in Czechia, according to ISPV data. The median salary in Slovakia last year was around €1,400. This shows Slovakia’s most talented workers are leaving for Czechia. One reason is the structure of the Czech economy, which generates more well-paid jobs. ( Iness )

Denmark’s Sanovo Technology Nikro  opened a new hall at its plant in Dolný Kubín, creating 80 jobs. It currently employs 200 people producing parts for machines used in the food industry. ( zilinak.sk , tvnoviny.sk ) Last year, the plant increased its net profit by 13% to €1.2m, and its sales  grew by 14% to €18.3m.

One reason for the brain drain from Slovakia is relatively high labor taxes , said the fiscal responsibility council RRZ. The government will increase them further from January: the basic deductible will shrink and two new income tax brackets of 30% and 35% will be added for salaries above €5,875 and €7,302 per month. With a gross salary of €5,875, the marginal tax rate is 56%, leaving the employee with only 44 cents for every extra euro earned. This reduces motivation to wor

Better financial results of private hospitals stem from their ability to negotiate higher payments from health insurers , not more efficient operations compared with state hospitals, found a Value for Money Unit study. While unit costs are the same between public and private hospitals, payments from insurers differ by 9%. The highest differences are made by state-owned VšZP, which is most susceptible to pressure from private hospitals. Last year, for example, it paid €3,366 f

Chinese marketplace Temu has the 2nd-highest brand awareness among Slovaks after Alza, with 16% shopping there at least once a week, according to a survey by agency 2muse. Almost 80% of Slovaks are familiar with both brands, followed by Nay, Allegro, and Martinus. Slovaks trust Temu, AliExpress, and Shein more than Amazon or eBay, citing low prices and a wide portfolio despite often lower quality. Fully 41% of people who shopped at Chinese e-shops reported late or missing de

Ryanair  will fly from Bratislava airport to 33 destinations next year and will base three aircraft there (an investment of $300m). It is introducing ten new routes from Bratislava where competitor Wizz Air is also starting flights. Passenger numbers at the state airport could double to over 4m next year, making it the fastest-growing airport in Europe. The current terminal was built to handle 5m passengers annually. ( aktuality.sk , hnonline.sk )

The growth in the assets of Slovak millionaires  this year was the fastest in history, according to the Wealth Report by J&T Bank. The assets of one-third of millionaires grew by more than 10%. The main source of growth was business income, with investment income making an increasingly significant contribution. Stocks delivered the biggest gains. Corporate bonds and art declined as a share of investment portfolios while private equity and crypto gained share. Millionaires are

Fitness online store GymBeam  (Dalibor Cicman) raised €30m from investors to expand into Western and Central European markets, strengthen its distribution infrastructure, and make strategic investments. Last year, it reported a net profit of €5m on €166m sales, and this year it expects €220m. In the latest investment round, PortfoLion acquired an 8% stake and EBRD 4%, valuing the company at €250m. Cicman holds a 72% stake. Rothschild & Co, AKF Legal, BCG, PwC, and Dentons rep

Soukeník – Štrpka was the largest law firm  in Slovakia, according to a regular survey by the Sme daily. A&O Shearman, Havel & Partners, Relevans, TaylorWessing, Dentons, Ružička & Partners, Kinstellar, Škubla & Partneri, and CMS followed. A&O Shearman had the highest revenues and profits last year, while Soukeník – Štrpka led in terms of the number of lawyers. ( sme.sk )