By: Vida Kocjan
Due to the disastrous economic policies of the outgoing governing coalition (Svoboda, SD, and Levica), the existence of at least 16,000 companies and at least 66,000 jobs is currently at risk.
Because of the suffocating policies of the outgoing governing coalition (Svoboda, SD, and Levica), companies are already reducing investments and raising the prices of products and services wherever this is possible. Not everywhere, of course, competition still plays its role. Furthermore, many companies are considering reducing the scale of their operations, and some have already done so during this government’s term, without speaking about it publicly. Many companies are also considering moving their activities abroad, and some have already done so. In some cases, companies are already relocating their headquarters and management abroad as a first step. Many are even considering shutting down entirely. Some still hope for change in the country, for the period after the upcoming elections on March 22. They hope for a change of government. Because what we have now in Slovenia is hardly comparable to anything. In fact, comparable is too mild a word. The situation is destructive for everyone except a small group of individuals who run wild and live in their gold‑plated bubbles.
Representatives of the business sector have recently warned of major problems. They said that companies are operating in an unpredictable business environment, government (state) pressures are increasing, and the number of endangered jobs is rising. Abroad, they are uncompetitive. Due to new demands from the ruling parties, who are trying to win over voters at this time, labour costs in value added per employee have already reached a record historical level.
According to a survey by the Metal Industry Association within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS), as many as 58% of companies are already considering partial or major relocation of production, 79% expect a decline in sales, and 70% expect job losses.
Many sectors are highly endangered. Things are truly at the limit. Whether the lid will blow off depends on us and our vote in March. This cannot continue.