Slovakia’s labour market is entering a period of profound change. An ageing population, labour shortages, migration, new technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping the way we work, while the country’s traditional economic model is coming under increasing pressure. In this interview, Monika Uhlerová, President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic, discusses some of the biggest challenges facing Slovakia’s workforce — from demographic change and the future of pensions to skills, labour migration and the changing expectations of younger workers. She also explores how workplaces, employers and social-security systems will need to adapt to a rapidly evolving world of work. In the latest episode of Slovak Sound Check, we cool down with one of summer’s greatest pleasures: ice cream! Learn useful Slovak phrases for ordering at an ice-cream shop, from choosing a cone or a cup to asking for scoops and your favourite flavours.