Important milestones and targets that enabled Slovenia to receive EUR 440 million for recovery and resilience

In terms of effective use of EU funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Slovenia ranks sixth among EU Member States. Slovenia has met all the milestones and targets linked to the fourth payment request, and the European Commission has therefore approved the highest possible disbursement of nearly EUR 440 million, almost entirely in grants. These funds represent an important contribution to the financing of measures in areas such as labour market policy, healthcare, education, infrastructure and other key areas.

Crisis short-time working scheme

Short-time working in times of crisis is regulated by the Act Regulating Partial Reimbursement of Wage Compensation for Short-Time Working. The scheme is intended to help employers preserve jobs in periods when they are temporarily unable to provide work to their employees. It allows them to receive partial reimbursement of wage compensation for employees for whom they are temporarily unable to provide full-time work.

Labour market regulation

The amendment to the Labour Market Regulation Act introduces higher unemployment benefits, enables reduced working hours for employees approaching retirement, and provides more opportunities for temporary or occasional work by pensioners. Conditions for employment agencies are being tightened, contributing to a more orderly and transparent labour market.

Pension reform

The pension reform is one of this Government's key reforms, as it establishes a long-term stable, sustainable and fair pension system for all generations, representing one of the most comprehensive social policy measures in recent years.

Three milestones of the Recovery and Resilience Plan are linked to the implementation of the pension reform. The first milestone, “Proposed amendments to pension legislation submitted for consultation”, was part of the third payment request, the second milestone, “Submission of a legislative proposal to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for comprehensive amendments to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act”, was part of the recently paid fourth payment request, and the last or third milestone, related to the pension reform, “Entry into force of amendments to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act”, will be included in the fifth payment request, which the government will submit to Brussels by the end of this year.