By: Sara Bertoncelj (Nova24tv)
“It is purely political harassment. Unfortunately to the detriment of people, especially retirees. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has prepared a good law and provided money. A lot of problems will be solved, there will be more care at home. Really necessary and useful. It is reprehensible that those who only promised and did nothing for 15 years are tearing it down,” said Romana Tomc, MEP – The Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions of Slovenia called on the MPs not to support the bill on long-term care (ZDOsk).
The Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions of Slovenia believes that the bill on long-term care, which was in the first reading in the National Assembly today, is not appropriate. MEPs were therefore urged not to support it yesterday, as it is empty in content and encourages the privatisation of public services. They find it controversial that the proposal does not specify a source for financing long-term care, “although it is clear that additional funds will be needed to set up such a system, estimated at between 250 and 300 million euros,” they wrote. According to them, there would be more undeclared work because relatives will hire help without proper qualifications and an organised basis for work.
As is customary in our country, trade unions, instead of advocating for the rights and benefits of pensioners or employees, prefer to oppose the current government, which is not “theirs”. Even if it did something that would otherwise be in their best interest. At today’s first reading of the bill on long-term care, the MPs agreed that a systemic regulation of this area is necessary. Most of the criticism was heard at the expense of the lack of financial resources, but it is expected that the proposal will successfully pass the first reading. Most parliamentary groups have also already announced a submission of amendments.
So far, nothing has been done in this area
“The draft law on long-term care (ZDOsk) covers everyone who, due to the consequences of illness, injury, disability or old age, needs help in performing daily tasks for a long period of time or permanently. The system law provides the source and method of financing,” MP Jure Ferjan said on Twitter. SDS MP Alenka Jeraj was critical in the National Assembly that the state, despite the fact that the social and left wing governments have been in power for the last ten years, does not yet have a systematically arranged long-term care. “In Slovenia, the partial regulation in the field of long-term care is complex, it is regulated in several different laws and regulations, there are different entry points and different needs assessment procedures. The new law will unify this,” she pointed out. NSi MP Iva Dimic also stressed that Slovenia is lagging behind with the introduction of a modern system of long-term care, so it is necessary to establish insurance and an efficient network of long-term care institutions. She believes that public funds should be provided for this purpose and supplemented by private ones.
DeSUS will also support the proposal
The SMC also estimates that the bill is suitable for further consideration – support for the proposal was announced today in all coalition parties. Of course, there were some remarks in the opposition, LMŠ MP Jani Möderndorfer finds the proposal vague, inconsistent and unclear, SD MP Soniboj Knežak believes that the bill was not harmonised at the Economic and Social Council. Primož Siter from the Levica party finds the proposal most problematic because until the establishment of a new contribution, the long-term care will also be financed from transferred funds from the pension and health insurance funds. According to the SAB party, the proposed solutions are not sufficiently defined in the law, and DeSUS has announced that they will support the proposal after the first reading, and will also submit appropriate amendments.
The law is neither coalition nor opposition, but it is extremely important
“The law is neither coalition nor opposition, but it is extremely important and does not allow room for any political prestige. That is why it is right to stand together and reach a consensus on such an important issue,” said MP Branko Simonovič. The unaffiliated MPs will also not oppose the proposal at the first reading, just like the DeSUS party, and they also call for the widest possible discussion within the business possibilities of the National Assembly. The SNS party assessed the result of the work of the Ministry of Health as excellent. “Long-term care is regulated by law at the system level. Now the area is regulated in seven different laws, which means that the average citizen cannot even know the scope of their rights,” said MP Jani Ivanuša. They also believe that it is necessary to ensure that the elderly live as long as possible in their beloved environment, and that institutional care should be used only as a last resort.