In terms of working conditions, Slovenia is on par with the old EU member states, according to a European survey on working conditions carried out by Eurofund, the European Fund for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
Slovenians report working longer hours (41.6) than workers across the EU15, but this is still less than in the new member states (42.9), Jean Michel Miller, the head of research at Eurofund, told the press on Monday.
Some 58% of Slovenian workers have fixed starting and finishing times compared to 60.7% across the EU. Moreover, 68.2% work fixed schedules as opposed to the EU average of 65.3%.
The survey has shown a great degree of solidarity among employees. According to Miller, this could be due to historical circumstances and could make Slovenia a role model for old EU members.
As for new technology, the survey has shown that a high percentage of workers used computers (over 50%) compared to an average of about a third across the new member states, but Miller also noted that there was a category of workers who never used computers.
On the downside, the survey suggests that the pace and intensity of work are harsher in Slovenia, as the share of workers who need to meet ever shorter deadlines is higher than in the neighbouring countries and exceeds the EU average.
Overall, the survey concluded that some 80% of workers across the EU are happy or very happy with their jobs. Those with regular and predictable schedules (some 60% of the total) are meanwhile more happy with the work-life balance, added Eurofund director Jorma Karppinen.
The survey was conducted across 31 European countries and included 30,000 workers. Its overall conclusion is that there are significant challenges ahead in the fulfillment of the Lisbon Strategy objectives of higher growth and employment.
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