Hungarian President Janos Ader on December 20 signed the contested overtime regulation, which raises the upper threshold for annual overtime by 60% to 400 hours and extends the period employers may account overtime for the purpose of calculating wages and rest days from twelve months to three years.

The change in the labour code is not in conflict with provisions in the Constitution, Ader said in a statement, adding that it does not weaken the protective regulations affecting employees. Increased overtime can only be applied after preliminary written approval by the employee and the employer must not punish those who are unwilling to work overtime, he repeated the government's argurments. Similar overtime regulation exist in other EU countries such as the UK, Denmark, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, he added. 

Parliament approved the legislation earlier this week amid chaotic circumstances, which sparked widespread indignation and the longest anti-government protests since the right-wing government of Viktor Orban took power in 2010. The protests are drawing a few thousand people as of now, but discontent is clearly growing and demonstrators look resolute to continue to take to the street.

Unions have also threatened road blockades and steps have been taken to organise strikes for January. 

On Thursday anti-government demonstrations continued in smaller towns across Hungary, forging rare unity among parties of different party affiliations. 

The adoption of the so-called “slave law” has brought together conservative Jobbik and social-liberal DK, once main foes. Momentum, which has a strong youth base, announced a major rally for Friday, supported by labour unions.

The repeal of the overtime rules is just one of the five demands by protestors. They are also standing up against the establishment of the new administrative court system, which has  raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary. 

Protesters have defied freezing temperatures and are demanding that Hungary should join the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the restoration of the free and independent public media. 

A free press has become a key demand after dramatic scenes at the state television headquarters on Monday, when guards used excessive force against a dozen MP's who wanted their demands read out. A large part of Hungary's media has come under the influence of the government-friendly circles, which are spreading propaganda and use their dominance to discredit any dissenting views.  

Opposition parties called for further resistance and announced a fight against the legislation after Ader signed the law. Jobbik accused the government of obeying the orders of large foreign companies. The Liberals said that Ader, a former deputy leader of Fidesz, "represents merely the interests of the government and not that of the people. With this gesture Ader has once again become an accomplice to a crime, lefist DK opined.