INTRODUCTION

Trends in the Slovene labour market in 1999 were favourable, as a result of which there was a gradual fall in the number of unemployed, an increase in the percentage of active unemployed as well as positive moves in the field of job placement services. Cooperation between the ESS and numerous partners on the local, regional and national levels had an important effect on the positive trends in employment. Its cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Sport and Education, with municipalities and with various institutions operating on the labour market contributed significantly to the results achieved. The Strategy of Employment in Slovenia until 2006, the National Action Programme for 2000 and 2001, the Employment and Unemployment Insurance Act and the ESS Business Plan lay down an important foundation for the ESS's work in almost all spheres of activity.

In 1999, the ESS staff focused mainly on implementing the new measures introduced by the new Employment and Unemployment Insurance Act. These were quite numerous. This called for organisational changes including the set-up of a new service to supervise unemployed people. A new ESS statute also had to be drafted. This demanded a lot of personal effort from the entire ESS staff. The transition from the old to the new system passed without any glitches and difficulties and went unnoticed by the users of ESS's services.

The ESS also invested a considerable amount of energy in reaching set goals; the main aim was to improve direct work with clients, regardless of whether it was with the unemployed, employers, students or anyone else. The ESS staff dedicated much attention to continuous training and better cooperation with concession holders in the area of employment and with other providers of employment programmes in Slovenia.

The Report on Activities Completed in 1999 contains descriptions of all programmes and measures, the number of participants and descriptions of all changes in the ESS operation in 1999.