Lidija

Ljubljana/Ravne na Koroškem – Slovenian trade unionists highlighted persistent problems with the exercise of labour rights as they pledged in Labour Day speeches that the fight for rights was not yet over.

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 – Slovenia’s largest trade union association, ZSSS, drew attention to platform workers – cleaners, food delivery persons, care workers and others as a group who often lacks any worker or social rights, urging the Labour Ministry to introduce a legislative framework to prevent unfair practices.

Ljubljana – All social partners attending a meeting hosted by President Borut Pahor on Thursday are ready to restore dialogue on the Economic and Social Council (ESS), Pahor said after the talks. An agreement on restoring the dialogue will be prepared by a spacial negotiating group.

Ljubljana – A group of Slovenian environmental NGOs has called on Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec as a representative of the Slovenian EU presidency to propose a political discussion on the EU exiting the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) at the September informal meeting of ministers in charge of energy.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly passed in a unanimous vote on Friday amendments to the penal code that redefine sexual consent in line with the concept that only yes means yes. MPs said during the debate that the credit should go to NGOs, which mobilised the public to create a genuine social movement.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly rejected in a 46:43 vote on Tuesday a proposal from the centre-left opposition for a consultative referendum on the government-sponsored bill on the national Demographic Fund.

The bill was adopted by the government last autumn and its passed a second reading in the National Assembly in March.

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 – President Borut Pahor hosted a Labour Day reception on Saturday at which the head of the ZSSS trade union association Lidija Jerkič said the holiday should be an opportunity to reflect on workers’ rights, and assessed that the government was ignoring social dialogue with trade unions. Many officials also marked the holiday with their messages.