Teaming up for Hungarian retailers

The Hungarian National Trade Association (MNKSZ) is one of Hungary’s biggest retail trade organisations. We asked general secretary Katalin Neubauer about their tasks and plans.

T.M.: – What are the fundamental goals of the association and who are its members?

Katalin Neubauer
general secretary
MNKSZ

– Ever since its foundation in 2014, MNKSZ has been busy representing the interests of Hungarian retailers among legislators. Only 100-percent Hungarian-owned companies can become members – retailers and wholesalers of FMCG goods and consumer durables. The association has reached a new level in representing the interests of the trade by becoming a member of the Sectoral Dialogue Committee.

T.M.: – How does the association take part in the interest harmonisation
process?

– We act as a kind of communication bridge between legislators and retailers: we provide legislators with trade documents and first-hand information, and we participate in interest harmonisation procedures too. This year MNKSZ entered the international stage as well, by becoming a member of the Brussels-based association Independent Retail Europe (IRE).

T.M.: – You have emphasised the importance of Hungarian ownership several times. Is MNKSZ’s philosophy different in this respect than that of other associations?

– Multinational retail companies have very different problems than Hungarian traders. These two kinds of problems can’t be managed effectively in the same association, so we decided to represent the interests of Hungarian retail enterprises.

T.M.: – Besides interest representation, what kind of other advantages does MNKSZ offer to members?

– We summarise the new laws – those that affect the work of retailers – for members. Framework agreements are also signed in order to help them comply with these. MNKSZ can take the problems of members to the highest levels to be dealt with.

T.M.: –What tasks are keeping you busy this year?

– We would like to cut the social contributions to be paid after part-time workers. Another thing is related to the Women 40 programme: as more and more women workers are missing from retail, we also want those old-age pensioners to be exempt from social contributions who aren’t pensioner cooperative members. In addition these, we have many other practical proposals as well. We can see how hard retailers are working on a daily basis to make progress. (x)