The amended Trade Act would make the operation of shops on Sundays and public holidays more viable.

Following a discussion at the Economic and Social Council, the Government approved the text of a draft law amending the Trade Act, which would provide exemptions for the operation of shops at international airports, tourist information centres and museums on Sundays and public holidays.

With the last amendment to the Trade Act in 2020, the National Assembly decided that shops would be closed on Sundays and public holidays, with exemptions. The measure also had consequences for museum shops and shops in tourist information centres, which are of course allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays but were not allowed to sell to visitors due to the change in the Trade Act. The Trade Act did include shops in airports among the exceptions that could operate on Sundays and public holidays, but only if they did not exceed 200 square metres in area.

Currently, the opening hours of shops at international airports, tourist information centres and museums can be determined without regard to the Trade Act - i.e. without restriction - under the Act on Intervention Measures to Assist the Economy and Tourism in Mitigating the Consequences of the Covid-19 Epidemic (ZIUPGT). This measure will only apply until 31 December 2022. In order to allow shops in these locations to operate on Sundays and public holidays beyond this date, an amendment to the Trade Act is needed. With the proposed amendment to the Trade Act, the Government intends to provide for exemptions for shops at airports, tourist information centres and museums in the same way as currently provided for in the ZIUPGT Act.

However, the Government proposes to further provide for exemptions from the Sunday opening ban for outlets in museums and tourist information centres in the Trade Act. Under the proposal, these could also operate uninterrupted on Sundays and public holidays, regardless of their surface area, as the commercial activity in these places is not the primary activity, but one of the ancillary activities that complement the offer. For this reason, the range of goods on offer is also very limited.

However, for outlets at airports, which are already exempted even under the current Trade Act, the Government would remove the condition of a maximum sales area of up to 200 square metres. As this condition could not be met due to the size of the shops inside the airports, which largely exceed this square metre area, these shops were closed, a situation which the government wants to remove by amending the law.

Source: Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

Government gives consent to the dismissal of the Director of the Celje General Hospital

On 15 September 2022, the Director of the Celje General Hospital (JZZ SB Celje), Aleksander Svetelšek, submitted a written declaration of resignation as Director of the institution. On the basis of the Public Institutions Act, the Health Services Act and the Articles of Association of the JZZ SB Celje, the Board of the Institution, at its 9th regular meeting on 7 November 2022, adopted a decision to dismiss Aleksander Svetelšek from the position of Director of the JZZ SB Celje on the basis of his written resignation.

The Government gave its consent to the decision of the Board of the JZZ SB Celje to dismiss the Director. The decision shall enter into force with this consent.

Source: Ministry of Health 

The Government dismisses and appoints the management of the Public Agency for Traffic Safety

The Government has issued a decision dismissing Jože Hribar as Director of the Public Agency for Traffic Safety of the Republic of Slovenia, with effect from 11 November 2022.

At the same time, the Government issued a decision to dismiss Mag. Simona Felser as Acting Director of the Public Agency for Traffic Safety of the Republic of Slovenia with effect from 12 November 2022, until the appointment of the Director of the Public Agency for Traffic Safety of the Republic of Slovenia following a competitive procedure, but for a maximum period of six months, i.e. from 12 November 2022 until 11 May 2023 at the latest.

Source: Ministry of Infrastructure

Slovenia and Algeria to abolish short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports

In the context of strengthening friendly relations between Slovenia and Algeria, the Government has taken the initiative to conclude an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria on the short-stay visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports.

The conclusion of the Agreement will exempt the citizens of both countries - holders of diplomatic and service passports - from the visa requirement for travel to the territory of the Contracting Party for a stay not exceeding 90 days in a period of 180 days.

In addition to the common visa policy of the Member States, the EU acquis provides for exceptions for which cases or categories of persons a Member State may independently regulate its visa regime.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs