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Guide to living and working in Slovenia Data on Slovenia Establishment: 25 June 1991 Active population: 932,772 Registrered unemployment rate: 7.3 % (December 2007) Registered unemployment rate according
to the ILO: 4.9 % Total
number of new jobs taken in 2007: 159,997 More information: Important telephone numbers 113 – Police,
reporting of accidents and criminal acts Useful Contacts Employment Service of Slovenia http://www.ess.gov.si Arrival to Slovenia Before deciding to move to Slovenia, it is advisable to visit the EURES portal http://eures.europa.eu where you can find useful information about life and work in Slovenia. You can also contact EURES counsellor in your country. As a citizen of European Union, you have the
right to enter the country with valid identity card or passport. Registration of Work / Employment, working permit Nationals of all EU and EEA (European
Economic Area) Member States have free access to the labour market in Slovenia. If you are
a citizen of EU or EEA member states, work permit to enter the Slovenian labour market is
not required, and you can apply for job vacancies under equal conditions. The employer is
obligated to register you into the obligatory
pension, invalidity, health and unemployment insurance within 8 days of the date of
signing the employment contract. At the Employment Service of Slovenia, it is
necessary to register the beginning of provision of services. The European employer
who offer the service in Slovenia with his employees, should register the beginning of
service at least 1 day before the service is actually being executed. If you are posted to
work in Slovenia, the employer is obligated (based on working contract concluded in your
country) to ensure you minimal working and employment conditions compatible with
Slovenian regulations. If you are a non EU citizen, you may gain
employment in Slovenia only on the basis of a work permit, which is issued in
accordance with Slovenian national legislation. A work permit is, as a rule, issued on
employers` request, so you need to find the employer who is willing to employ you first.
An employer will obtain the work permit only under certain conditions. The most important
condition is that there are no suitable candidates registered at the Employment Service of
Slovenia and that the employment is not causing any disturbances in the Slovenian labour
market. More information: Employment Service of Slovenia: http://www.ess.gov.si A residence permit If you intend to stay in Slovenia for a
period of more than three months, a residence permit is needed. An application for a
residence permit can be made at the local Administrative unit with valid passport,
or identity card. In the case of employment, you must submit confirmation from your
employer that he will employ you, or proof of employment (an employment contract). In the
case of study, self-employment or retirement, appropriate evidence should be provided. You
must also provide proof that you have a secure means of subsistence and suitable health
insurance. More information: Ministry of Public Administration: http://e-uprava.gov.si/e-uprava/en/portal.euprava Finding a job Vacancies are published on the Employment
Service of Slovenia and EURES web-sites. They are also published in the daily newspapers
(Delo, Dnevnik, Večer, Primorske novice, Gorenjski glas, Dolenjski glas), on radio
stations, and television. Job brokering is performed through the
Employment Service of Slovenia or private employment agencies owning a concession issued
by the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. Those agencies are not allowed to
demand any payment from job seekers for finding employment. Students can look for job through a very
well-developed network of student employment agencies. Such work is usually casual
and temporary. If you want to apply for job vacancies in
Slovenia, a structured and concise CV (Curriculum Vitae) needs to be written. Since
there is no standard CV in use, the following information should be included: personal
details (date of birth, nationality, personal and e-mail address, telephone number,
driving license, etc.), education, knowledge of languages, working experiences, particular
areas of competence, career information, and hobbies. If you do not master Slovenian
language, the CV should be written in English language. Certificates of education and
qualification need to be enclosed, and references are desired. Annexation of photograph is not a practice in
Slovenia. The standard European Curriculum Vitae format
(Europass Curriculum Vitae) in several languages is available on EURES web-site. More information: The European Job Mobility Portal: http://eures.europa.eu If you have gained a particular education abroad and would like to have it recognised in Slovenia because you wish to be employed there, you must submit an application for recognition of education for the purpose of employment (prescribed form Z) to the competent ministry. If you have a higher-education diploma, send your application to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. If you have a non-higher-education diploma or certificate, send your application to the Ministry of Education and Sport. The following documents shall be included
with the application: legally verified Slovenian translation of education document and its
original, year certificates, index, and other evidences of duration of education. Also a
short chronological description of the whole educational period should be included. The
competent ministry will issue the decision within two months of the date of submitting a
complete application. It is not possible to file an appeal against a decision, but an
administrative dispute is possible; a legal action can be brought at the competent
Administrative court. If you have gained a particular education
abroad and wish to continue your education in Slovenia, you must submit an application for
recognition of education for the purpose of continuing education (prescribed form N)
to the school or university where you wish to continue your education. The school will
give a decision on the basis of which you will be able to enter the relevant educational
programme in Slovenia. An appeal against a decision may be lodged with the school’s
board or senate. More information: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology: http://www.mvzt.gov.si/en/areas_of_work/recognition_and_assessment_of_education/#c888 Mutual recognition of qualifications Before deciding to work in Slovenia, it is
advisable to find out if your profession is regulated in Slovenia. If you want to pursue
the regulated profession (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, teacher…), the standard
application for the recognition of qualifications needs to be submitted to the Ministry of
Labour, Family and Social Affairs. Evidence of citizenship, education /qualification
evidences, and other evidences should be included with the application. If your qualifications are appropriate, a
favourable decision on the recognition of your qualifications will be given. However, if
your qualifications are not appropriate, a decision refusing recognition of your
qualifications, or a partial decision specifying that an aptitude test or adjustment
period is necessary will be given. More information: Ministry of Labour, Family and Social
Affairs: Labour relation Before the beginning of work, employment
contract in written form is concluded with the employer. Employment contract can be
signed for definite or indefinite period of time. The employer is obliged to register
you into the obligatory pension, invalidity, health and unemployment insurance within
8 days of the date of signing the employment contract. He is also obliged to deliver you a
photocopy of registration within 15 days from commencing work. The Employment Relationships Act is assuring
protection of workers in case of pregnancy, parenthood, invalidity, and young or old
workmen. Payment for work is made up of
basic wage, part of wage for efficiency, and allowances. The minimum gross wage in
Slovenia was 566,53 € in March 2008. In most companies, wages are defined by position
quotients appointed in collective agreements and are paid out monthly. The worker is
entitled to extra payments for special working conditions related to the distribution of
working time, i.e. for night work, overtime, Sunday work, work on statutory holidays, and
for years of service. The employer must ensure the worker
reimbursement of expenses for meals during work, for travel expenses to and from work, and
of expenses the worker incurs during performing certain work and tasks on business travel. Full working hours should not exceed
40 hours a week and should not be shorter than 36 hours a week (except for jobs where
there is a greater risk of injury or damage to health). Annual leave in an individual calendar
year lasts at least four weeks. The right to the entire annual leave is acquired after six
months of uninterrupted period of work. More information: Ministry of Labour, Family and Social
Affairs: http://www.mddsz.gov.si/en/areas_of_work/labour_relations_and_labour_rights/
Taxes and charges on labour A monthly social security contribution
and advance payment on income tax is paid by employees out of their salaries.
Income tax is paid by residents of Slovenia. You are a resident of Slovenia if: ·
your permanent place of residence is in
Slovenia, ·
your usual place of residence or the centre
of your personal and economic interests is in Slovenia, ·
you spent more than 183 days in total in
Slovenia during one tax year, ·
you reside outside Slovenia due to employment
in a diplomatic body, consulate and similar. Tax obligations are determined by
income brackets. In assessing advance income tax some tax relief is allowed, e.g. for
supported children or other family members. Taxed incomes are all incomes of Slovene
residents with a source of income in Slovenia as well as abroad, and incomes of a
non-resident with a source of income in Slovenia. Every person liable to tax has a tax
number. More information: Tax Administration of the Republic of
Slovenia: http://www.durs.gov.si Social security The system of social security in Slovenia is
based upon contribution payment from both, employers and employees. In Slovenia,
contributions for health insurance, pension and invalidity insurance, maternity,
unemployment insurance, and accident at work and occupational disease insurance are paid. Health insurance Before your arrival to Slovenia, the European
health insurance card or other corresponding document enabling you to enforce the required
medical services should be provided in your central country. With employment in Slovenia,
your inclusion into the compulsory health insurance system will base upon contributions
paid out of your wage. Compulsory health insurance comprises of insurance against diseases and injuries outside work, and insurance against injuries at work and occupational diseases. The compulsory health insurance overlays the
majority of health hazards, but not all and not in totality. In case of illness, wage compensation for
illness is received during your absence from work. Medical record from your doctor needs
to be submitted to the employer. In addition to compulsory health insurance,
which is provided by the Health Insurance Institution of Slovenia, you can also take out voluntary
health insurance provided by insurance companies in order to acquire additional
entitlements. You will have to decide yourself whether to
take out voluntary health insurance, but it is advisable to insure yourself for the
shortfall from the full value of health services which are not covered in full by the
compulsory health insurance. The health insurance card is
electronic personal document that needs to be presented at a doctor visit. The card is
issued, free of charge, to every person upon the first regulation of the compulsory health
insurance status. Validity of the card is updated by the card holders autonomously,
through the self-service terminals, installed in hospitals or resembling institutions. More information: The Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia: http://www.zzzs.si/ Maternity leave Maternity leave lasts 105 days. Mother
receives maternity compensation defined upon the average of wages paid off in the last
twelve month period. More information: Pension and invalidity insurance The right to old-age pension is based
upon the insurance, and depends on completed insurance period and on reaching a
certain age. If you`ve been working (and been insured) in more than one EU country, you
are entitled to receive pension from each country in which your insurance period was
longer than one year. Pensions will correspond to the insurance period completed in each
country, allowing periods from different countries to be summarized. The right to disability pension is
based upon the insurance and stated invalidity. The right to disability pension is also
granted to an insured person with no occupational rehabilitation assured. More information: Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of
Slovenia: http://www.zpiz.si Unemployment benefit If you lose employment you are entitled to an
unemployment benefit. The condition is that, in the past 18 months, you were
previously employed with one or several employers for at least 12 months, that you were
insured against unemployment, and that no suitable employment is available. After your
employment terminates, you have 30 days to register at the employment service and file an
application for asserting your right to unemployment benefits. How long you receive unemployment benefit
depends on your previous supplementary insurance, the period ranging from a minimum of 3
months up to 24 months. In the first three months the unemployment benefit amounts to 70%,
and in the following months 60% of your average salary as received in the twelve months
prior to unemployment, less taxes and contributions. If you are receiving unemployment benefits
from another EU member state and wish to look for job in Slovenia, you may do so and
register at the Employment Service of Slovenia under certain conditions. Based on the
application form E 303 available in your country of origin, you may look for job in
Slovenia for up to 3 months and in this period keep receiving unemployment benefit. The
benefit amount will be as provided by the law of the member state you come from. The
Slovenian Employment Service will require proof that you are actively seeking employment
and are available for employment. More information: Employment service of Slovenia: http://www.ess.gov.si Accommodation In finding accommodation you can be assisted
by private agencies dealing in purchase, sale or lease of real estate, or you can look up
advertisements in printed media and the internet. If you decide to rent a flat, an
agreement with its owner - which needs to be authenticated by a notary - is usually
concluded. Real estate prices and flat rents depend on
the site, location, furnishing and age of a flat. Prices are the highest in Ljubljana and
its surroundings, in Koper, Maribor and Celje. Rent does not normally include running
costs (electricity, gas, water, heating, telephone and waste collection). Normally three
months rent is paid as a deposit. Average flat rents in Ljubljana are: for a
studio flat 417 €, one-room flat 494 €, two-room flat 727 € and three-room flat
1.075 €. More information: http://www.abc-nepremicnine.si http://www.realestate-slovenia.info Obtaining a vehicle If you wish to import a used vehicle into
Slovenia, you must have the vehicle examined by an authorized expert organisation. If the
vehicle is found adequate the expert organisation will issue a certificate of conformity
which enables you to register it at the registration body. If you wish to import a new vehicle with an
EC-wide type-approval, you must, apart from the bill, present necessary documentation such
as the EC Certificate of Conformity or a registration document issued by the competent
state body of the country of origin. In obtaining a vehicle without EC type-approval it is
required to present the bill as well as documents with technical information on the
vehicle and proof of conformity with all technical specifications or pertinent
regulations. More information: Ministry of the Interior: http://www.mnz.gov.si Opening hours are for the most part
continuous with no intermediate lunch break. Stores are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
working days (to 1 p.m. on Saturdays), while shopping centres are open from 9 a.m. to 9
p.m. On Sundays some shopping centres are open. Cultural and social life All information about cultural and social life can be found on National Tourist Association web-site http://www.ntz-nta.si (look under “Events” rubric) The Education system Basic (primary) education is compulsory, free of charge, and lasts nine years. Secondary (upper) education is
organized in vocational, secondary professional schools and general secondary schools.
Programmes are free of charge and can last up to 5 years. Education is completed when
final or leaving examination is passed. More information: Ministry of Education and Sport: http://www.mss.gov.si Higher (post-secondary) education includes academic university studies and professionally oriented studies, and lasts from 2 to 6 years. More information: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and
Technology: http://www.mvzt.gov.si |
