Janez Cigler Kralj

Ljubljana – The government adopted a new stimulus bill on Monday, with the extension of the furlough scheme and minimum wage subsidies as the key measures that are to help companies weather the epidemic.

Ljubljana – Four opposition parties have filed a motion to oust Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Minister Janez Cigler Kralj over his work during the epidemic and the ministry’s decision to grant funds to an NGO with close links to the minister. They need 46 votes in the 90-member National Assembly to succeed.

Ljubljana – Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj said on Thursday that helping employers cover part of the minimum wage raise would cost the state some EUR 47 million.

The proposal to that effect will be included in the eighth economic stimulus bill, which could be in parliament in the middle of next week, he told the press.

Ljubljana – The Employers’ Association is not supporting the Labour Ministry’s proposal to partly cover the minimum wage rise for employers for a limited period of time since it thinks such a measure would offset less than 40% of the increase in labour costs. The organisation urges a better solution.

Brdo pri Kranju/Ljubljana – Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj has announced after meeting social partners on Tuesday that he will set the minimum wage for 2021 at EUR 1,024 gross. This is 120% of the minimum cost of living and the lowest possible rise under minimum wage legislation. Last year, the minimum wage stood at EUR 941 gross.

Ljubljana – The ruling Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) continues to lead the field in the latest poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo, but has lost ground for the second month running. The LMŠ party of ex-PM Marjan Šarec and the DeSUS of the aspiring PM-designate Karl Erjavec have likewise slipped back amid growing voter discontent.

Ljubljana – As many as 2,501 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Monday, the second highest daily increase to date, as almost 23,500 PCR and antigen tests were performed, the largest number yet, following scaled-down testing over the extended holiday weekend. Another 30 patients with Covid-19 lost their lives, government data show.

Ljubljana – The provision allowing employers to unilaterally terminate workers once they have met formal conditions for retirement, passed within the latest stimulus package in parliament on Tuesday, continues to raise dust as trade unions label it inadmissible and clear abuse of crisis legislation. Employer representatives are meanwhile welcoming it.

Ljubljana – Voluntary mass vaccination against Covid-19 started in Slovenia on Sunday, a day after the first 9,750 doses of the vaccine arrived in the country. The first to get vaccinated were elderly at care homes who have not yet been infected, followed by some care home and hospital staff.

Ljubljana – Vaccination against Covid-19 is expected to start at care homes around Slovenia on Sunday, Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj told the press on Wednesday. According to government Covid-19 spokesman Jelko Kacin, there will be enough vaccine in the first phase for vaccination of all care home residents who have not been infected yet.