Slovakia - Factors To Watch on July 4

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REGULAR GOVERNMENT MEETING

The government will hold its regular weekly meeting with no major economic items on the agenda. It is the cabinet's last meeting before a three-week summer break.

S&P SAYS SLOVAKIA ON TRACK TO ADOPT EURO IN 2009

Standard & Poor's sees Slovakia's sovereign credit rating as appropriate with no strong momentum for an upgrade, but planned euro adoption in 2009 might mean it could be raised if fiscal policy is tightened.

[ID:nL03816969] [RTRS-AAA-FRX-SK]

SLOVAKIA WEIGHS PAYROLL TAX HIKE, BUSINESSES AGAINST

The Slovak government is considering changes to the pension system that would raise employment taxes and boost state income, a social affairs ministry document showed on Tuesday.

[ID:nL03805820] [RTRS-POL-JOB-SK]

CBANK DRAINS SKK 149 BLN IN REPO TENDER

The Slovak central bank (NBS) accepted all bids in a regular two-week repo tender on Tuesday, draining 149.134 billion crowns ($6.04 billion) from the market.

[ID:nL03378918] [RTRS-MMT-CEN-SK]

JUNE INFLATION SEEN BENIGN, RATES TO STAY FLAT

The Slovak inflation rate is expected to stay near record lows in June, a Reuters survey showed on Tuesday, and analysts forecast the central bank would hold key rates steady for a third consecutive month.

[ID:nL03626273] [RTRS-MCE-ECI-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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UNIVERSITY FEES

Parliament approved on Tuesday a new law introducing fees for some external students at Slovak universities. Students studying at more than one university will also be charged.

Sme, page 1

PENSION FUNDS SLAM GOVT

Slovak pension funds slammed a proposal of the social affairs ministry to open the private pension saving scheme, the so-called second pillar, allowing people to leave.

Sme, page 7

HIGHER WAGES IN HOSPITALS

The Slovak Association of Hospitals proposed a 10 percent hike in wages for all hospital employees. Doctors' unions rejected such a step due to a lack of funds.

Sme, page 9

BALKAN WORKERS IN SLOVAKIA

Hundreds of workers from Romania and Bulgaria are employed in Slovakia's three car assembly plants and in Samsung Electronics' factory due to a lack of skilled labour locally.

Pravda, page 18

For news on upcoming events in the United States and other Group of Seven countries, see . For a diary of forthcoming Slovak events, double click [SK/DIARY], and a calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY].

News editor of the day: Peter Laca, on +421 2 5341 8402; fax: +421 2 5341 8403

E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk

Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net

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