Labour drought in Europe's east as workers go west

Budapest

A DECADE ago, business was booming for Hungarian construction firm owner Geza Borgulya. He was making an annual profit of some five million euros (S$7.5 million) and had around 60 staff including surveyors and bricklayers.

Now, the 44-year-old has barely a dozen employees left. "I'm glad if I make a million in earnings," he told AFP in the central town of Rackeve.