Minister Highlights Talks with Civil Society as Biggest Success

Ljubljana, 1 August

Presenting on Friday the achievements of the Labour, Family and Social Affairs Ministry in this government's term, Minister Marjeta Cotman highlighted talks with the civil society as the biggest success. "I find this the biggest success, but it was also the hardest part," she said.

Cotman pointed to the decrease of unemployment, saying it is at its lowest point since Slovenia gained independence. At the beginning of the government's term almost 91,000 people were unemployed, while the number currently stands at some 60,000, Cotman noted.
Between December 2005 and May 2005, the number of long-term unemployed people fell by over 30%, while the number of unemployed under 25 years of age has decreased by almost 13,000 to 6,700, Cotman said.
She believes that this was the result of strong economic growth and efficient active employment policy.
Cotman also noted that the introduction of quotas improved employment chances for the handicapped. Yearly, between 1,750 and 1,930 of handicapped get jobs now, while the number stood between 800 and 1,000 before.
The passage of amendments to employment relationships act meanwhile brought more flexibility to the labour market, while at the same time retaining the level of social security, Cotman said.
Among the achievements, the minister also listed the signing of the 2007-2009 social agreement, more scholarships and long-term system of subsidies for students' meals.
According to Cotman, the number of people receiving welfare benefits dropped by 37% to some 39,200 between December 2004 and June 2008. She believes this to be the consequence of the changes to the act on social security and employment. She added that the monthly social relief amounted to almost EUR 222 this July.
Furthermore, the changes to the pensions act benefited the pensioners, since the pensions are being adjusted to wages more consistently since 2005, she added. The government also did not introduce any stricter criteria for retiring.
The number of beds in nursing homes has increased by 3,000 and a tender that would bring 750 new beds in Ljubljana and Maribor is currently underway, Cotman added.
Cotman also underlined measures for increasing the birth rate, such as higher child benefits and benefits for large families. She noted that in 2006 and 2007 more children were born than in the previous years.
Cotman was appointed minister in December 2006, when Janez Drobnic was deposed after presenting a controversial strategy for boosting birth rate, which among other things speculated that the abortion would be covered by health insurance only in certain cases.

Minister Highlights Talks with Civil Society as Biggest Success

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