President Türk describes exploitation of migrant workers as a national disgrace

Ljubljana, 1.9.2011  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, visited Rog Social Centre where he met activists from the Invisible Workers of the World (IWW). They talked about the violations of the rights of migrant and other workers who have suffered great distress and were denied the payment of wages and contributions by their employers for several months. Some also lost their jobs and had to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina without receiving any compensation.

President Türk stressed that the issue at stake related to the problem of human rights and that it was a national disgrace. He emphasised that it was not right that we had 'invisible workers'. Problems must be visible. He explained that this was the aim of his visit, through which he wished to increase the visibility of these problems and contribute towards solving them.

President Türk expressed his expectation that Slovenian trade unions and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia would become more actively involved in these issues. He mentioned that the strengthening of the Public Guarantee and Maintenance Fund by additional funds allocated to assist those workers not entitled to unemployment cash assistance could be one possible solution. He also called for legislative changes to be made.

President Türk drew attention to the functioning of the inspection services and called for their faster, more effective and dynamic operation. On the subject of the workers who had returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina, he pointed out that the ratification of the social agreement between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was in its final phase and would provide the legal framework for the payment of cash assistance to those workers.

The IWW representative, Irfan Be¹ireviæ, thanked President Türk for his visit and readiness to participate in solving the problems of migrant workers in Slovenia. He recalled that, in addition to the unpaid wages and contributions, the inclusion of migrant workers in the social state and their right to further education in Slovenia were also causes of concern.

The participants presented the situation of the workers employed by Luka Koper contractors, who participated in the dialogue between the employers and the port's management after the strike had been concluded. They pointed out that the dialogue was not running smoothly; President Türk called for its intensification.

The discussion also touched upon the funds earmarked in spring by the Slovenian Government for relieving the most pressing humanitarian challenges of the workers concerned. Such a government policy is necessary and very good; however, there are some questions which remain unresolved and relate to the applications for assistance, to which the applicants have not received any replies.