According to Radio Slovenija the essence of the agreement is the transfer of all police working positions from the 5th to the 6th tariff classification by no later than the end of June 2018, which also means a higher salary grade for all employees. "One tariff classification for sure, for some job profiles we even allowed two, but our approach was selective," is what Public Administration Minister Boris Koprivnikar told Radio Slovenija. He explained that they compared police officers on the field with those working in offices, towns and villages.

The higher salary grade placement is a result of the law, which now requires a higher education for becoming a police officer. Employed policemen will have a period of 5 years to gain their new educational qualifications, but in the meantime they will already start receiving higher salaries. "If a level 6 education is required and the employee does not meet the criteria, according to my understanding his or her contract will be terminated," explained Koprivnikar.

Those with more than 15 years of work experience will not need to pursue a higher education level, as in their experience outweighs the need for a higher degree. Minister Koprivnikar admits that he is not in favour of the principle of seniority, but that the agreement is generous: "It's very generous because the Ministry of Interior and the Republic of Slovenia are willing to cover the costs of the education and that is a special benefit..."

How will the other unsatisfied public employees react?
Firefighters are not commenting the agreement between the government and the police. Doctors, who demand the removal of an upper limit for their salaries, have not yet commented on the deal either. The trade union at the Ministry of Defence welcomes the achievement of the police, but warns of the government's double standards.

The government is ready to negotiate only with those professions which can cause damage to the system and does not find it necessary to negotiate with anyone else, says Maran Lah, a union member from the Ministry of Defence. And perhaps they are not the only ones who say we might be at the beginning of the end of the single payment system.

G. C.; translated by K. J.