ESS - Economic and Social Council of Slovenia

The ESC was founded as the main consultative and coordinative institution for social dialogue in Slovenia. It was primarily set up to deal with issues related to the social agreement and wage policy, social policy, labour relations, employment and employment related topics, industrial relations (system of collective bargaining, etc), prices and taxes, the economic system and economic policy, legal security plus other areas that are relevant for social partners. As well as dealing with areas requiring tripartite agreement, the ESC can also examine other matters of an economic and social nature.

In addition to its advisory role, the ESC has a key role in negotiations for social agreements and, until some years ago, also wage policy agreements, which were adopted within the sphere of its activities. So far, five social agreements have been adopted through the ESC, the latest in December 2016.

The ESC examines draft legislation covering the entire spectrum of economic and social relations between employers and employees. In this respect, the 1999 agreement reached between the social partners on the pension system reform and the 2002 Labour relations act are considered major achievements. In 2006 amendments to the Labour relationships act came under discussion between the social partners and the government and after long and tough negotiations consensus was achieved in June 2007.

The ESC also examines strategic development papers put forward by the government, such as Slovenia's development strategy and the economic and social reform package to enhance the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy. The ESC was also consulted on the reform programme for the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy and thereafter on the yearly reports on the implementation of the programme. In 2011 the ESC discussed the National reform program, connected to the Europe 2020 Strategy, and was acquainted with the Euro pact.

In February 2012, an agreement was proposed to the social partners by the new Government concerning the starting points for the preparation of a social contract for the period 2012–2016. The agreement constituted the starting point and the basis for further discussion on fundamental issues relating to labour legislation, the labour market, health, pension and disability insurance, and the public sector wage system. All ESC members signed the text of the mentioned starting points and adopted with a strong consensus key anti-crisis measures:

The revised budget for 2012 was the first and urgently required measure for adjusting public finance spending to realistic limits. The Ministry of Finance set itself the target of reducing the national budget deficit (to a 3% GDP ceiling). It significantly reduced national budget expenditure (by approx. EUR 800 million), which came as a result of savings on material costs and was followed by relevant changes to the legislation regulating national budget expenditure and public funds.

An all-encompassing and demanding social dialogue process led to the adoption of a systemic Fiscal Balance Act, which means implementation of the golden fiscal rule, to which Slovenia committed itself before the international public on grounds of majority political support. Unfortunately, Slovenia has not yet reached a consensus on this issue for it to become a constitutional value providing for reasonable expenditure of public funds and protecting the young and future generations against uncontrolled spending of borrowed money.

The new Pension and Disability Insurance Act in the National Assembly was unanimously adopted and almost entirely coordinated with social partners, on 4 December 2012.

On 5 March 2013, the National Assembly unanimously adopted the labour market reform, which consists of two key elements: the new Employment Relationships Act and The Act Amending the Labour Market Regulation Act.

A practice has been developed that the Government consults the social partners already in the early stages of preparation of drafting of documents. This work is done mostly in the expert groups, which all the social partners consider very useful.
The ESC is also active regarding international cooperation with European Economic and Social Committee, other national economic and social councils, ILO, etc.