Organizations of Slovenian employers, gathered under the umbrella body for social dialogue in neighboring Slovenia, the Economic and Social Council, sent a protest letter directly to Prime Minister Robert Golob, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the way the Government is conducting talks with social partners.

The main complaint concerns the complete disregard of their proposals and comments related to the new draft law on mandatory Christmas bonuses, writes N1. As a sign of protest over the lack of dialogue, employers proposed a radical solution, namely that the Christmas bonus for all employees be paid directly from the state budget.

Information published today by the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia confirms the great disappointment of employers, because at the session of the Economic and Social Council held on Monday, all written proposals, arguments, and open questions from employer organizations regarding the disputed law remained without any concrete response or valid explanation from the government side. Although the legislative proposal officially refers to the so-called winter allowance, in public and political discourse it has commonly acquired the nickname Christmas bonus. The message to Prime Minister Golob was sent not only on behalf of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business, but also on behalf of the leading employer organizations in Slovenia, including the Employers' Association of Slovenia, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and the Association of Employers of Craftsmen and Entrepreneurs of Slovenia.

'Since we have not received any answers, the basic preconditions for a meaningful discussion of the proposed law have not been met,' the employers emphasized in their letter, stressing that the essence of social dialogue lies in the equal participation and treatment of all partners, including employers. They also added that in this specific case employers were completely ignored and neglected both in the preparatory phase and during the discussion of the draft law itself.

Because of such a damaged dialogue, participation in the extraordinary session of the Economic and Social Council would be premature and pointless, the employers said, and therefore they did not attend the session on Monday. The discussion on the draft law was nevertheless held between representatives of the Slovenian Government and the trade unions, which the Chamber of Craft and Small Business characterized as just another conversation between the Government and the trade unions. Particular anger is directed toward the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Luka Mesec, whom they consider the guardian of social dialogue in the country. 'We are particularly outraged by the actions of Minister Luka Mesec, who allowed such a form of social dialogue, and even led the discussion at the session without the presence of employer representatives,' they emphasized.

They strongly oppose this lack of understanding of the foundations of tripartite dialogue and the minister's unilateral move, pointing out that in this way he is once again destroying social dialogue and neglecting employer organizations, which represent an indispensable part of economic life in Slovenia. Employers recall that this way of governance had already led to their temporary withdrawal from the Economic and Social Council in July 2023, and they announce that the continuation of such practice could lead to a new temporary obstruction of the Council.

Because of all of the above, employer organizations demand that social dialogue continue within the usual tripartite framework with the full and equal participation of all social partners. The subject of negotiations must not be only a narrow range of minimal parameters, but the entire content of the draft law, which, in addition, must also be properly prepared. 'Only in tripartite dialogue with open content, where the government side, trade unions, and employers are equally involved, could an agreement be reached that would be acceptable to all sides,' they concluded. Despite the boycott and the lack of quorum due to the departure of employers, the Economic and Social Council nevertheless reached an agreement at the extraordinary session that all employees should receive a tax-free and contribution-free Christmas bonus in the amount of half the minimum wage, with a deferred payment for employers who are in financial difficulties. The Government discussed the draft law, which forms the basis for that payment, in mid-October.