The social partners met to discuss the problem of a precarious form of employment, which is gaining popularity in Slovenia. Many employers prefer this form of employment, as it allows them to avoid a number of rights and payments which regularly employed workers are entitled to. The Ministry of Labour has prepared a document »For decent work«, in order to face new structural challenges which "are increasing the gap between those employed on employment contract, and those who are employed through other forms of employment." The document contains also measures which should present "a breakthrough towards decent employment of all citizens."

In order to reduce precarious forms of employment, and prevent illicit use of atypical forms of work, the Ministry of Labour proposes certain measures, including more efficient supervision with higher fines for violators, and regulation of Labour Inspectorate and Financial Administration. Inspectors would have the right to demand that employers enter into employment contracts.

As reported by STA, Minister Anja Kopač Mrak emphasized that there would always exist atypical forms of work in the labour market, also because of different nature of jobs, and to that fact the systems of social security should be adapted so that social security would be guaranteed in the highest possible measures also to such employees.

Employers rather critical towards the document
Today the document was discussed by the social partners, who have different opinions on precarious, or flexible forms of employment. The Employers' Association claims that the document made by the Ministry of Labour does not define the essential – i.e. the term "a decent job" is not defined. The definition of the term could help to great extent to solve the problem of precarious jobs.

"As we understand it, a decent job is any job based on suitable legal basis, for which a worker receives a suitable payment, and all the legal safety measures applying to the type of job have been met. Jobs defined by the Employment Relationship Act in our opinion cannot be considered precarious, or atypical forms of employment," was the response of the Employers' Association to the document.

They do not consider fixed term employments, part-time employments, and agency work as atypical forms of employment. These are forms of employments envisaged by the Employment Relationship Act, and are thus allowed. The same is true also for concluding other civil law contracts, they claim, and also claim that most of the proposed measures tighten conditions mainly for employers and do not facilitate performance of work, or its flexibility. "We must stress that the aim of employers for the next reform of labour market is to increase flexibility and legal security of employers as well," they added.

Gregor Cerar
Translated by G. K.