The government plans include no promotions for civil servants in the next year, no regular performance bonuses, a reduced holiday allowance, while the modified wage scale would continue in force. Certain bonuses would be reduced as well.

Administration Minister and the main government negotiator Boris Koprivnikar has already explained to the unions, before the first round of negotiations, that the government starting points include 3% cut of labour costs of the wage bill. "How to reach that goal, and by which measures – either by reducing additional costs, perhaps even by laying off, or transfers, is the matter of negotiations, therefore at the moment I cannot speak of numbers," he continued.

Unions have made it known in advance that they had no intention of accepting such measures; they even mentioned 'state of war'. Koprivnikar answers that he can agree a war has indeed been declared, but to economic and government instability. "In this war we are all fighting on the same side," he added.

The time is short
Negotiators must reach an agreement by the end of the year. Koprivnikar emphasizes the importance of reaching an agreement, as it is impossible to escape from the given financial commitments. The present proposal given by the government includes extensions of the presently valid measures, and some additional ones, mostly reduction of certain bonuses. It also predicts an additional annual reduction of the number of civil servants (presently 1%), but the actual percentage has not been given.

T. K. B.
Translated by G. K.