Slovenian Finance Ministry Rejects OECD Proposal to End Christmas Bonus

The Slovenian Ministry of Finance has clarified that it does not currently plan to abolish the mandatory Christmas bonus (winter bonus) for public sector employees, instead emphasizing that the decision should be reached through dialogue among social partners. The ministry's stance comes in response to recommendations from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which has suggested eliminating the benefit as part of measures to improve the country's fiscal position.

The ministry stated that it is still analyzing the public finance situation following the recent handover of responsibilities between the former and current governments. While the OECD attributes a 0.3 percent of GDP deterioration in public finances to the winter bonus, the ministry believes the matter warrants thorough discussion within the Economic and Social Council, involving the government, employers, and trade unions.

Trade unions have strongly opposed any move to scrap the bonus. Branimir Štrukelj, Secretary General of the Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia (SVIZ), declared that workers will not give up the bonus without a fight, calling it a hard-won right that should be preserved. He expressed confidence that both the public and private sectors would stand united on this issue.

On the other hand, employers have raised concerns about mandating the bonus for all companies, especially those facing financial difficulties. Mitja Gorenšček, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), argued that it is unfair for the state to impose such financial obligations on struggling businesses. Gorenšček noted that employers support the OECD's ideological arguments but highlighted that the OECD's analysis does not fully account for tax relief measures, such as the social cap for managers, which the Fiscal Council projects will worsen public finances by 1 percent of GDP.

The ministry insists on the importance of social dialogue and the autonomy of all stakeholders, urging social partners to engage in in-depth discussions to reach a consensus. The fate of the Christmas bonus remains a subject of ongoing debate.