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Slovenia

Background information on industrial relations in Slovenia

• 11 Dec 2006
  Slovenia: Employment law amendments aim to increase flexibility and combat undeclared work

  In July 2006, the Slovenian government adopted draft amendments to the law on the prevention of undeclared work and employment. Under the amendments, the work of a student without an appropriate referral is considered as undeclared work. Furthermore, undeclared workers are now regarded as having concluded an employment contract for an indefinite period. Conversely, work of a short duration and small jobs are no longer considered to be undeclared work.

• 11 Dec 2006
  Slovenia: Employers scrap collective agreement for textiles industry

  In September 2006, two sectoral employer organisations annulled the collective agreement for the textiles, clothing and leather processing industry. The agreement, which was concluded on 22 December 1997, is based on an old general collective agreement for the private sector and also has other shortcomings.

• 02 Oct 2006
  Slovenia: New law fixes minimum wage

  Since 1995, the minimum wage in Slovenia was based on tripartite agreements on minimum wage increases which were subsequently implemented by law. In future, the minimum wage will be fiixed by the Law on the Determination of Minimum Wage, which establishes the method of adjustment of the minimum wage and the amount of the minimum wage for 2006.

• 02 Oct 2006
  Slovenia: Trade union calls for register of occupational diseases

  Slovenia is the only EU Member State where there is no register of occupational diseases. For more than 15 years, there has been no system for verifying and reporting occupational diseases. The Union of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS) has attempted to raise awareness among the public, the government and parliament of the difficulties faced by workers with occupational diseases but with little success. ZSSS demands that the government should introduce a special compulsory insurance scheme for health and safety at work, and should designate a relevant expert body for the verification of occupational diseases.

• 12 Sep 2006
  Slovenia: Social partners conclude intersectoral agreement on pay

  In June 2006, the employers and trade unions concluded the private sector intersectoral collective agreement on the pay adjustment method, the refund of work-related expenses and the annual leave bonus. The agreement outlines the categories of workers who are covered, and details the pay adjustments that apply, as well as the bonuses for night work, overtime, work on Sundays and annual leave.

• 12 Sep 2006
  Slovenia: Proposed new company law generates controversy

  In March 2006, the Slovenian government adopted the Law on cooperation of workers in management of a European company (Societas Europea/SE), therefore transposing the employee involvement directive supplementing the SE directive. The following month, the parliament adopted the new Law on companies, thus also implementing the SE regulation. The extremely late transposition of both the SE regulation and the SE directive was attributed to the controversy surrounding the introduction of a one-tier management structure.

• 01 Sep 2006
  Slovenia: Employers annul agreement in retail sector

  In February 2006, two Slovenian employer representative organisations annulled the Collective Agreement for the Retail Sector (CARS), arguing that it is out of date. The organisations have also indicated their preference to start negotiations on the Agreement on Working Time of Workers in the Retail Sector – which includes the highly controversial rules restricting shop opening hours on Sundays – prior to the negotiations on the new CARS. The two trade unions representing retail workers have criticised the annulment. They accuse the employers of trying to manipulate the trade unions, by aiming to conclude the agreement on working time prior to the conclusion of the CARS.

• 28 Aug 2006
  Slovenia: Membership of Chamber of Commerce and Industry to be voluntary

  In May 2006, the Slovenian parliament adopted the new Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). According to the new LCCI, membership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia will no longer be compulsory but will become voluntary for companies.

• 28 Aug 2006
  Slovenia: Controversy over Sunday opening hours

  The Retail Workers’ Trade Union of Slovenia, which has sought Sunday opening restrictions for shops since 2002, has failed yet again in its efforts. Some retail companies requested the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia to re-examine the constitutionality of the amended Article 17 of the Law on Retail Trade that restricted the Sunday opening hours of shops. The court further postponed the date on which these amendments were to come into force. Therefore, shops selling essential goods may open again on Sundays without limitations.

• 28 Aug 2006
  Slovenia: Law on collective agreements adopted

  After 12 years of preparation and negotiation among the social partners, the Slovenian parliament finally adopted the Law on Collective Agreements (LCA) on 4 March 2006. The LCA introduces free and voluntary collective bargaining.

• 16 May 2006
  Slovenia: New public sector union confederation

  On 1 February 2006, five Slovenian public sector trade unions founded the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KSJS). With 81,000 members, KSJS is now the second largest confederation in Slovenia. Its establishment comes at a crucial time, prior to the launch of comprehensive economic and labour reforms, which will have an impact on the legal and social security rights of public sector workers.

• 30 Jan 2006
  Slovenia: Unions protest against government's reform programme

  On 26 November 2005, trade unions jointly organised the largest demonstrations since Slovenia independence, in opposition to the government’s reform programme. The core and most controversial part of the programme is the introduction of a flat tax rate, which the trade unions and many other NGOs totally reject. Unions also argue that talks over a new tripartite social agreement for 2006-9 are pointless if the government persists with the introduction of the flat tax rate.

• 06 Jan 2006
  Slovenia: Rail workers’ trade unions divided over restructuring

  In 2005, the Slovenian government has been considering a further restructuring of the Slovenian Railways Holding Company (HSZ). At present, there are three rail companies, dealing with infrastructure, passenger transport and freight transport respectively, with the latter two undergoing partial privatisation. Railway workers' trade unions are split over the issue - apparently reflecting the diverging interests of their members - with some favouring the current situation and others calling for a return to a single unified rail company.

• 06 Jan 2006
  Slovenia: Strikes held on railways

  In November 2005, several short strikes were organised by the Railway Traffic Union of Slovenia (SZPS) and some smaller rail trade unions. The strikes appeared to relate both to current plans to restructure the Slovenian Railways Holding Company and to demands for better working conditions. The majority of rail unions opposed the strikes.