President Türk welcomes decision to provide urgent material assistance to workers from abroad

Ljubljana, 18.2.2011  |  press release

The Slovenian President, Dr Danilo Türk, welcomed yesterday’s decision of the Government to provide EUR 300,000 from general budgetary reserves as urgent material assistance to workers from abroad who have found themselves in a difficult position due to the loss of a job and cannot exercise their rights to benefits following termination of employment or for other reasons. According to President Türk, this decision will provide temporary and highly urgent solutions to a very problematic situation and improve the living conditions of migrant workers. Yesterday’s decision of the Government constitutes a first step, since Slovenia is currently in the process of adopting an agreement in this area with Bosnia and Herzegovina. President Türk is, however, convinced that this decision will, in the period before the agreement comes into force, help to assure at least minimum conditions for social security and the personal well-being of these workers.

With regard to developments in this area, President Türk addressed a letter to the representative of the Invisible Workers of the World organisation, Irfan Be¹ireviæ, who, on 11 February 2011, took part in a meeting with President Türk, in which the participants pointed to a gross violation of the rights of migrant workers concerning severance pay, unpaid wages, unpaid contributions for health and social security and their distress. President Türk suggested to Mr Be¹ireviæ that talks of this kind should continue in the future. He also suggested to the representative of the Invisible Workers of the World that he should cooperate with the relevant service-providers on implementation of the Government’s decision, and so enable professional workers in social centres and in humanitarian organisations that are responsible for carrying out the Government's decision to efficiently perform their duties and properly carry out their tasks.