Slovenia: Tripartite deal on employment law changes

In June 2007, after debates lasting more than a year, the Slovenian government and social partners reached agreement on amendments to the Law on Employment Relationships, the main item of legislation regulating individual employment rights.

The principal changes agreed by all parties include the following:

• employees may work up to 230 hours of overtime per year (employers had sought a 240-hour limit, while unions were in favour of 210);
  
• employees made redundant for business reasons and for whom their employer or the public employment service find an alternative job during their notice period will no longer be entitled to severance pay;
  
• while the current notice period (of 150 days) will remain for the termination of employment contracts of workers with fewer than 15 years’ service, shorter notice periods will apply to workers with longer service;
  
• if they lose their jobs, workers aged 50 and over, or with more than 25 years’ service, will be entitled to full pay for one month or additional unemployment benefits; and
  
• employees who resign will no longer be bound by statutory notice periods.

The minister of labour, Marjeta Cotman, welcomed the agreement, stating that it will lead to new jobs and greater labour flexibility, while retaining the current level of employment security.