The activities of the ESS were laid down by the 1991 Employment and Unemployment Insurance Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia (OGRS), Nos. 5/91, 12/92, 71/93, 38/94 and 69/98).

The tasks and areas of responsibility of the ESS in the fields of employment, scholarships and unemployment insurance are regulated by numerous regulations, laws and rules.

The changes planned for the area of employment and unemployment insurance were finalised in October 1998, which was also when the Changes and Additions to the Employment and Unemployment Insurance Act were adopted (hereinafter: the new Employment and Unemployment Insurance Act).