Branimir

Ljubljana – The Constitutional Court has annulled a provision in the latest Covid relief law that raises the pay ceiling in the single public sector wage system only for doctors and dentists. The trade unions which petitioned the court to examine the law welcomed its decision.

Ljubljana – The National Council vetoed on Wednesday amendments to the act on special rights for minorities in education which would set a higher Italian language standard for staff working in Slovenian-Italian bilingual kindergartens and schools.

Ljubljana – The SVIZ trade union of teachers has collected over 24,000 signatures among employees in education against amendments to the organisation and financing of education act, which would change the composition of school and kindergarten councils to increase the influence of the founder – the government. Speaker Igor Zorčič has backed the initiative.

Ljubljana – The Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia (SVIZ) expressed its frustration with the authorities on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day. Teachers are still being ignored despite proving their contribution to a functioning society during the epidemic, said Branimir Štrukelj, the secretary general of SVIZ.

Ljubljana – Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Ljubljana on Friday protesting against the government’s actions and calling for an early election. The rally included various groups and movements and was supported by trade unions and part of the opposition. PM Janez Janša said spreading Covid-19 with unregistered mass rallies was a crime.

Ljubljana – Trade union confederations said they had decided to leave the Economic and Social Council (ESS), the country’s industrial relations forum, because the government had practically abolished social dialogue and thus deprived them of the seats at the negotiating table. They warned the government’s action was leading to a conflict.

Ljubljana – The SVIZ trade union of teachers will launch a campaign to collect signatures among teachers to call on Education Minister Simona Kustec to resign, in a bid to send out a clear message that the Education Ministry has not been run well over the past year, that is during the coronavirus epidemic.

Ljubljana – The International Workers’ Day, 1 May, will this year again be marked by epidemic-related restrictions. Trade unions call for job security, decent pensions, social security but also for safety at work, so that workers are not exposed to infection. Traditional celebrations with big bonfires on the eve of the holiday will not take place.

Ljubljana – After discussing the government’s Demographic Fund bill at the request of the opposition, the parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Public Finances decided on Friday that the concept did not provide a long-term sustainability of pension funding. It thus called on the government to draw up a new, better solution.

Ljubljana – The government has presented to public sector trade unions a preliminary proposal overhauling the public sector pay system. The sector is to be split into two groups, allowing more autonomy in terms of salaries to institutions funded not only by the state but also by other sources. Unions believe this would lead to disintegration of the pay system.