New Legal Protections for Slovaks in Slovakia and Austria

Slovakia will introduce a major revision to its social insurance law in summer 2026. The amendment lowers the income threshold that triggers mandatory pension and sickness contributions to 10.5 times the national minimum wage, affecting self‑employed workers, artists and other freelancers. Those whose earnings fall below the new limit will be exempt from contributions, while anyone earning even one euro above will be required to register with the Social Insurance Agency.

In Austria, parliament approved a constitutional amendment that enshrines the rights of six recognised minority groups, including the Slovak community. The change moves minority protection from a 1976 law into the Austrian constitution, aiming for greater stability and resistance to political shifts. Slovak officials note that around 50,000 Slovaks live, work or study in Austria, and the amendment is expected to improve support for Slovak language, culture and institutions such as the Komenský school in Vienna.