Govt Lifts Restrictions on EU Workers
The Slovenian cabinet has decided to lift all restrictions on EU workers in line with Slovenian efforts to see the principle of the free movement of labour implemented across the EU.
Slovenia is dropping the principle of reciprocity for labour restrictions in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). This means that workers from the old EU members (EU15) that have so far maintained restrictions on Slovenian labour will no longer be subject to tip-for-tat Slovenian restrictions.
The government maintains that the lifting of restrictions for workers from all EU member states will not endanger the Slovenian labour market.
The decision is in line with the government's efforts to see the principle of the free movement of labour implemented across the EU and EEA without exception.
Slovenia had applied restrictions on labour from 12 old EU member states that chose to put restrictions on Slovenian labour (together with the seven other EU newcomers from central Europe) after Slovenia joined the EU on 1 May 2004.
Four of the 12 countries - Finland, Spain, Portugal and Greece - decided to lift the restrictions for the newcomers as of 1 May of this year, following the initial two-year transitional period.
Slovenia had been lobbying for all old EU member states to lift restrictions, claiming this was beneficial for the competitiveness of the EU economy and was only right given the EU's principle of the free movement of labour.
However, eight countries decided to keep enforcing the restrictions in one way or another following 1 May of this year for a period of up to three years with the possibility of another two-year extension after that.
The government will now inform the National Assembly of its decision and task the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs to suitably change the legislation.
Data from the Employment Office shows that 454 EU15 or EEA citizens were employed in Slovenia on 30 April of this year. Most are highly-skilled workers who are employed as high-ranking representatives of foreign companies in Slovenia.
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