The Economic and Social Council on Friday endorsed the government proposal to open Slovenia's labour market to Romanian and Bulgarian citizens on 1 January 2007, as these two nations join the EU bloc.
The Ministry of Labour, the Family and Social Affairs does not think the liberalisation will cause any major disturbance on the labour market as there are currently few workers from those two countries in Slovenia and no major inflow is expected.
Nevertheless, the ministry agreed with the social partners to step up control and to regularly monitor the employment of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals in Slovenia. Janja Romih of the Labour Ministry moreover said that the safety clause could be applied in case of a threat to the domestic labour market.
Romih does not think a transitional period would solve the problem. Romanian and Bulgarian citizens could enter the Slovenian market by starting up their own enterprise or through self-employment, over which the state has no control, the official explained.
The Economic and Social Council, which brings together representatives of the government, trade unions and employers, also endorsed the work permit quota for foreign workers in 2007. This will stay at this year's level, i.e. 18,500. The quota includes 1,000 reserve work permits.
"Slovenian companies need workers in certain occupations that are not available in Slovenia," said Dusan Semolic, the head of the Association of Free Trade Unions.
The unionist however warned that collective agreements must be respected for those workers or else there was the danger of social dumping. Foreign workers often do extra hours, they are not allowed to strike and do not get allowances, Semolic said.
Igor Antauer of the Employers Association at the Chamber of Crafts Industries rejected trade unions' claim that employers hired foreign workers just because they were cheaper.
"The Slovenian labour market faces significant structural unemployment. There is a shortage of workers with certain skills, so they have to be imported," Antauer said. According to him, the market is short of some 5,000 drivers, many construction workers, while some 90,000 people are without a job in Slovenia.
He admitted unionists' warnings were justified, but added that wrongdoing should be dealt with by inspection services. "The market that is not open to ideas, people and capital is doomed."
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