Expert Group Meeting on Economic and Social Council Social Dialogue and Economic Social Councils SLOVENIAN CASE Igor Antauer,, deputy president of Economic and Social Council of Slovenia (Association of Employers in Craft and Small Business of Slovenia) Wienna,, July 2008 Social Councile of Slovenia 1
Brief introduction to Slovenia - Area: 20.273 km - Population: 2.015.000 - Neighbors': Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia - Member of EU, Schengen and EURO zone - Independence: 1991 Social Councile of Slovenia 2
Brief introduction to Slovenia Economic data - GPD: 16.616 616 - Labor Force: 1.036.000 - Unemployment rate: 4,9 % - Employment Foreigners' / year: 79.500 - Average Gross Earnings: 1.326,19 - Average Net Earnings: 864,43 - Growth 2007: 4,7 % - Inflation 2007/2008: 6,9 % - Number of Companies: aprox.. 110.0001 - Number of SME s: aprox. 68.000 - Number of Craft units: aprox. 47.000 Social Councile of Slovenia 3
History of Economic and Social Council of Slovenia (ESC) 1991 - First idea of Social Partnership 1991 - Government's Economic and Social Policy Program (dialogue between: State, Employees and Employers) 1992 - Government's draft Agreement on the provision of social stability 1992-1994 1994 Non formal discussion between Government, Trade Unions and Employers Associations about ESC with no result reason apposition of Trade Unions (to big differences in sectors) Social Councile of Slovenia 4
Establishment of Economic and Social Council of Slovenia 1994 was signed between Government, Trade Unions and Employers Associations AGREEMENT ON SALERIES POLICY in TRADE AND INDUSTRY FOR 1994 and in paint 9. define: * Establishment of Economic and Social Council (ESC); * ESC is tripartite with 15 members (5 Employers, 5 Employees and 5 Government), now each partner r 7; 7 * Purpose is to discuss issues on measures concerning economic and social policy including specific areas of agreement between social partners and to give opinions and positions on those issues; * ESC is giving proposals and initiatives to competent authorities and organizations; * ESC discuss maters on request of one of social partners or on it's own initiative. Social Councile of Slovenia 5
Rules of Economic and Social Council of Slovenia * Adopted by ESC September 1994 (changed on next years); * Working fields of ESC; - Social Agreement; - Social rights from mandatory insurance (pension, disability, social assistance and benefits); - employment and employment related topics; - system of collective barging; - prices and taxes; - economic system and policy; - legal certainty; - cooperation with ILO and Council of Europe; - co determination, Trade Union rights and freedom. Social Councile of Slovenia 6
Formalities of Economic and Social Council of Slovenia * Way of working; - participates in drafting legislation and issues opinions and proposals; - initiate adoption of new laws and amendments; - forms positions and opinions on legislation ; - forms opinions about the budget and budgets memorandum; - proposals, opinions and recommendations are sent to National Assembly (Parliament), National Council and public; - decisions are binding to social partners; - each member of ESC has his depart; - Mandate of the presidency of ESC is one year each social partner side; - secretariat of ESC is organized and financed by the Government. Social Councile of Slovenia 7
Formalities of Economic and Social Council of Slovenia * Decision making; - with consensus; - each partner (Employees, Employers, Government) has one vote; - if not consensus negations continue next 30 days; if not even after 30 days, ESC can not adopt a common position; - if member of one partner can not reach an agreement they negotiate separately must be concluded in 30 days; - each partner designates a reporter; - members has right to hold their own (separate) opinion; - sessions are by the rule not open to the public, but media are present. Social Councile of Slovenia 8
ESC of Slovenia MEMBERS BY ORGANIZATION; Government group: - Ministry of Labor And Social Affairs; - Ministry of Economy; - Ministry of Finance; - Government Office for Growth; - Ministry for Public Administration; - Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development; - Prime Ministries' Office. Employers Group: - Association of Employers of Slovenia; - Chamber of Commerce and industry of Slovenia; - Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia; - Association of Employers in Craft and Small Business of Slovenia; - Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. Employees group: - Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia; - Confederation of Trade Unions PERGAM of Slovenia; - Trade Union Confederation 90 of Slovenia; - Independence Confederation of New Trade Unions; - Slovenian Association of Trade Unions ALTERNATIVA; - Trade Union SOLIDARITY; - Confederation of Public Service Trade Unions of Slovenia. Social Councile of Slovenia 9
ESC of Slovenia Topics 1994 2008 (Most important and most frequent) 168 sessions: - Salaries; - Budget documents; - Pension Reform; - Minimum salary; - Law on Labor relations; - Annex to Law on Labor relations; - Law on collective Bargain; - Law on Unemployment; - Law on medical insurance; - Law on social security; - Lisbon Strategy; Social Councile of Slovenia 10
ESC of Slovenia Topics 1994 2008 (Most important and most frequent) 168 sessions: - Legal security; - Participation on profit; - Law on employment and rehabilitation of disabled persons; - Law on Security and Health at work; - Law on ESC; - Program on active Policy on Employment; - Law on income tax; - Social Agreements for different periods; - ILO documents; - EU documents. Social Councile of Slovenia 11
ESC of Slovenia Case: Social Agreement for Period 2007-2009 2009 - Way of working: Separate meetings of ESC the only topic: Social Agreement - Frequency of Meetings: from 1 per. month to 4 time in week - Public: Not t at sessions, statements after the sessions - Chairing sessions: Member from Employer's side Government proposal - Time from beginning to signature: 11 math effective: 6,5 math's Social Councile of Slovenia 12
ESC of Slovenia Case: Social Agreement for Period 2007-2009 2009 Structure of Social Agreement 2007-2009 2009 ACTIVITIES INTENDED FOR ATTAINING THE GOALS SET IN INDIVIDUAL FIELDS 1. CURBING INFLATION AND PRICE POLICY 2. PUBLIC FINANCE 3. SOCIAL DIALOGUE 4. TAX SYSTEM 5. PROMOTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN ECONOMIC RESEARCH 6. COMPETITIVE ECONOMY AND FASTER ECONOMIC GROWTH 7. EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR MARKET 8. WAGES AND SALARIES 9. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK 10. IMPROVED QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND PROMOTION OF LIFELONG LEARNING Social Councile of Slovenia 13
ESC of Slovenia Case: Social Agreement for Period 2007-2009 2009 Structure of Social Agreement 2007-2009 2009 11. CO-MANAGEMENT 12. RECONCILIATION OF WORK AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES 13. HOUSING POLICY 14. HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE 15. SOCIAL SECURITY 16. PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE 17. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY 18. LEGAL SECURITY 19. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMON AND GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIAL AGREEMENT Social Councile of Slovenia 14
ESC of Slovenia Case: Social Agreement for Period 2007-2009 2009 Structure of Chapters: 1. Introduction 2. Government tasks 3. Employers tasks 4. Trade Union tasks Social Councile of Slovenia 15
ESC of Slovenia Case: Social Agreement for Period 2007-2009 2009 Goals: 1. faster economic development and dynamic economic growth that will lead to job creation and faster progress of less developed regions, and to stable economic conditions based on price stability, balanced income position, lower government deficit and public expenditure,, and sustainable public finance over the long term; 2. enhanced well-being, better quality of life of the population and improved material conditions of workers, which shall be based on a stimulating, socially fair end economically viable income policy; 3. enhanced competitiveness of the Slovenian economy which requires a more stimulating and business-friendly environment, investments in the research and development, products and services with high value added, and more adequate evaluation of knowledge, entrepreneurship and innovation; 4. balanced social development, improvement of social security and reduction of social risks for the most vulnerable groups. Social Councile of Slovenia 16