Draft law: a four-day working week for 18,000 public employees

LJUBLJANA — The Ministry of Public Administration has published a draft law that would introduce a 12-month pilot of a four-day working week in parts of Slovenia's public sector. Employees would work 32 hours instead of 40 on full pay. The ministry says the pilot would be financed by cutting overtime, and public consultation is open for 30 days.

Background

Public bodies paid about €96 million in overtime last year. Minister Jana Rozman argues that tired staff work overtime inefficiently and that a shorter week could reduce sick leave, which costs the state roughly €140 million a year. The pilot would start on 1 March and cover administrative units, three ministries, tax offices and two regional hospitals.

Who is involved / positions

• Minister Jana Rozman (Ministry of Public Administration): the reform is "a test, not a revolution"; results will be measured by an independent institute.
• Public-sector union "Skupaj" (SSJ), led by Marko Žagar: supports the idea but demands written guarantees that no wages or bonuses will fall and that staff will not be forced to do five days' work in four.
• Employers' Chamber "Podjetna Slovenija" (PSZ), director Petra Golob: warns that the private sector cannot match the conditions and that the state will "drain workers from companies".
• MP Boštjan Hribar (opposition): calls the plan "a pre-election gift" and claims the real cost is hidden.
• Dr. Simona Kranjc, director of Gorenji Log General Hospital: says her nurses already work 15% overtime and the hospital would need 60 more staff to cover a four-day rota.
• Aleš Turk, columnist at the daily Jutranji kurir: writes that the pilot is "the most interesting experiment in the state in a decade", but doubts the numbers.

Key facts and numbers

• 18,000 employees in the pilot, 12 months, 32 hours a week, 100% pay.
• Overtime budget to be cut by 40%, saving an estimated €38 million.
• Estimated extra cost for replacement staff: €22–31 million.
• Ministry's projected net saving: €7–16 million; the opposition says it will be a loss.
• Consultation: 30 days; parliamentary vote expected in January.

What happens next

The union will decide on its position at a council meeting in two weeks. The hospital association has asked for healthcare to be excluded from the pilot. Minister Rozman will present the draft on national television on Sunday, and the employers' chamber is preparing its own cost study.

This material is fictional and was created as an example for a simulation.