Government plan for ‘mini-jobs’ thwarted after Slovenian unions win referendum

Slovenia’s main trade union confederation, ZSSS, has stopped a government plan to allow employers to offer students and the unemployed so-called “mini-jobs” with fewer rights.

Under the plan employers would have been able to take on students, the unemployed or the retired on a temporary or casual basis for up to 14 hours a week and pay them up to ¤8.33 an hour (about £7). However, those employed in this way would have had no access to most employment rights or benefits such as annual leave, sick pay, redundancy pay or maternity leave.

The Slovenian constitution requires that a law must be subject to a referendum if at least 40,000 voters call for it, so ZSSS and the main student organisation collected 47,000 signatures, forcing the government to submit its proposal to a popular vote.

On a 34% turnout, the plan, which had been approved by the national assembly last November, was rejected by a majority of almost four to one.

In a statement after the referendum, the ZSSS said that it was very satisfied with the result as the legislation would have had an “extremely negative effect on workers’ rights”.

Dušan Semolic, ZSSS president said he hoped the result would lead the government to restart meaningful talks with the unions and employers.

“The law was a major mistake by the government, which listens more to rating agencies than the people of the country,” he said.