"We wish for all the Slovenians a lot of optimism, and a fresh impetus, but above all additional free time for family, friends, and relaxation. Our SMC parliamentary group believes that the public finance situation has stabilised to that extent that this work-free day can be reinstated. We suggest the modification of the act is adopted by a fast-track procedure, so that the act, should it be adopted, could apply to January 2, 2017," Simona Kustec Lipicer, the leader of the SMC parliamentary group, explained their proposal.
According to her words, the proposal is supported also by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy; the latter believes the work-free day would have a positive impact on tourism which last year achieved record results, and would encourage additional consumption, which would be contribute to economic growth.
Coalition in favour of the proposal, but dissatisfied with SMC
The vice president of the DeSUS Party and MP Tomaž Gantar is not opposed to the idea about January 2 being again a work-free day. But he is not satisfied that at the times when really important dilemmas should be discussed, the SMC Party is proposing such modifications; he considers it might be action pleasing to public, with – at least partially – the purpose of improving the public opinion. But the fact that SMC was against the proposal in 2015 does speak in favour of their purpose, according to Gantar.
The SD Party parliamentary group will support the reinstatement of January 2 as a work-free day. But they do not intend to add their signatures to the proposed act, they explained.
The United Left Party also supported the decision by the SMC Party; in 2016 their party was the initiator of such proposal.
Abolished due to austerity measures
In 2013, January 2 stopped being a work-free day with the adoption of the Fiscal Balance Act. The main reason for its abolishment were the intention to contribute to higher productivity, or higher gross domestic product, the second reason being the fact that in most of the other European countries January 2 is a normal working day, and not a work-free day.
Initially, the Fiscal Balance Act included also the abolishment of May 2 as a work-free day, but at that time the government and the unions agreed that it would remain a work-free day. January 2 was a work-free day for more than half a century; together with May 2, and November 30, it was designated as holiday in 1955.
There are no official data on savings resulting from abolishment of the work-free day January 2. The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS), which had supported the proposal, in 2014 estimated that "the savings amounted to close to EUR 35 million", while in the public sector the estimated savings amount to EUR 170,000.
A. Č.; Translated by G. K.
