The principles of flexicurity should be the focus of amendments being made by the Hungarian government to the nation's labor code.

This is the claim made by union umbrella group LIGA, which has stated that there is a failure in current policy to take the European Union strategy into account, news agency MTI reports.

According to the body, the twin priorities of job security and labor market flexibility should be enshrined in future employment plans, with a statement criticizing current draft proposals as "a gross curtailment of employee rights".

LIGA is calling for a complete overhaul of the labor code to ensure workers have fair treatment regarding dismissals and other issues.

It has responded to a government consultation on the plans, which have also reportedly come under fire from opposition politicians who have claimed they could result in higher joblessness and fewer rights for individuals.

However, ministers have emphasized the proposals are still at the discussion phase and will safeguard the interests of older workers and mothers.

The country's statistics agency recently reported Hungarian unemployment dropped from 11.6 per cent between January and March 2011 to 10.8 per cent in the quarter to June.

Posted by Alex Donnell