By: Andrej Žitnik / Nova24tv.si
In the SBC – Slovenian Business Club, they express concern about some solutions in the draft law on emergency measures to contain the spread and mitigate the consequences of the infectious disease covid-19 in the field of healthcare. As they warn, the business environment is particularly uncertain in the current tough conditions, and individual provisions would make it even more difficult for companies to do business. Therefore, they suggest to the government to reconsider the solutions and reformulate the draft law accordingly.
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia recently adopted a draft law on emergency measures to curb the spread and mitigate the consequences of covid-19 in the field of healthcare, which, according to the Minister of Health Danijel Bešič Loredan, laid the legal basis for covid-19 to become an endemic disease by spring. The government has sent the bill to the parliament for consideration under an urgent procedure, which of course means that there will be less time for discussion.
Higher costs for employers
The draft law on emergency measures to curb the spread and mitigate the consequences of covid-19 foresees a change in the bearer of the cost of compensation during the absence (isolation) of an employee from work, which is the result of a confirmed infection with the Sars-CoV-2 virus. According to the bill, the costs will be transferred from the current holder, the Institute for Health Insurance of Slovenia, to employers.
“Such a solution is inadequate in today’s tough conditions, when the business environment is particularly uncertain, and does not make the situation easier for companies. On the contrary, as a result of such measures, the business conditions of companies will become even tougher. We also point out that at this time the number of infections with the new coronavirus is increasing, which causes additional problems for companies in ensuring smooth operations,” the SBC warned – Slovenian Business Club.
Reducing the rights of the insured
In addition, they point out that the bill also reduces the rights arising from the temporary absence of employees from work. In the bill, the government stipulates a reduction in the amount of salary compensation from the current 90 percent to 80 percent of the base. As they say in the SBC, this will directly affect the insured, i.e., the employees.
They propose to the government to reconsider
The SBC – Slovenian Business Club therefore suggests to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia that it reconsiders the inadequate solutions in the proposed law on urgent measures to curb the spread and mitigation of the consequences of the infectious disease covid-19 in the field of healthcare, which they point out, and reform them accordingly.
“We do not need additional burdens that will have a negative impact on the operations of companies, and thus also on the jobs of many employees,” they emphasised.
A stable business environment must be ensured
When creating more appropriate solutions, the government should consider that entrepreneurs are already vulnerable during the energy crisis and other difficult circumstances. “In doing so, it should follow the guideline that companies must be provided with a stable business environment in these uncertain conditions, which will not burden them additionally and reduce their business momentum,” the SBC – Slovenian Business Club also said.