SNS is continuing its crusade against retailers

Agriculture Minister Gabriela Matečná (SNS) is continuing her crusade against retailers. She pointed out that Slovakia’s food price growth was the 2nd-highest in the EU last year and continues this year. Prices did not fall even after parliament abolished the special levy on retailers that were blamed for a lion’s share of the price hike. Retailers abuse their dominant position to give consumers and suppliers short shrift, while “farmers and food producers barely survive,” according to Matečná. She rejected retailers’ arguments that the higher minimum wage and higher pay for weekend and night work are to blame for the food price hike. She thinks the publication of the costs and profit margins of farmers, producers, and retailers based on a new EU directive will help; implementing this will take a few years, though.

(SME/8)