By: Spletni časopis
“It is hard to prejudge that. But I must say, it does sound quite unbelievable.” This was the surprised response of Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič to Tanja Gobec, who received her own show Politično following the depoliticisation of RTV Slovenia, when asked whether, if employers oppose mandatory Christmas bonuses, they would be paid only to the public sector.
In the national budget, which after eight months shows a deficit of over one billion euros, the ruling parties have not planned any funds for Christmas bonuses. Nor have they proposed a budget revision to enable such payments, at least not yet. However, Prime Minister Robert Golob announced the payout last week, as elections are just around the corner.
The government has already shown disregard for budget planning of state expenditures. One example is the transfers to RTV Slovenia, which received ten million euros last year and again this year, outside of budgetary plans. Officially, the funds were for minority programming. In reality, they were used for salaries. Despite an increase in the RTV contribution, there is still not enough money for wages.
Tanja Gobec asked further what exactly sounded unbelievable. Boštjančič replied: “That it would be only for the public sector. But as I said, I do not want to prejudge anything, because even the statements we make are sometimes interpreted in their own way and then gain momentum. To avoid speculation, I would prefer to have a calm discussion. So, it is best to refrain from further comments at this moment about what will happen when it happens.”
I commented on the situation on platform X as a form of exploitation of pensioners, who now have to pay a contribution for long-term care because the budget has run dry, while suddenly, there is money for higher salaries for officials and the public sector. And not just money, but a larger amount.
Boštjančič previously drew attention when, at the Freedom Movement congress, he said the idea of mandatory Christmas bonuses could be removed from the agenda if consensus among social partners could not be reached. This was understood as a sign of trouble with employers. However, the statement was later officially clarified as having been misquoted.
The ministry stated that the minister did not say the government could abandon the introduction of mandatory Christmas bonuses, as one does not enter dialogue with social partners by issuing ultimatums. The government unanimously approved the framework for mandatory bonuses. The bonus remains a government goal, and dialogue with social partners will continue within that framework.
It is possible that Gobec’s question about bonuses only for the public sector was prompted by the Prime Minister’s announcement that the public sector would receive them. That is how it is resonating on platform X.
Gobec also surprised Boštjančič during their conversation with the claim that voters had approved the long-term care policy implemented by the government in a referendum three years ago. In reality, the referendum only concerned a proposal by the ruling parties to postpone the implementation of the long-term care law from the time of Janez Janša’s government by one year. Voters did not reject that proposal. However, the contribution itself, now legally mandated and already being paid, was not part of the referendum. And despite this additional contribution, the government has yet to provide the promised care.