At the AmCham Focus event, organized by the AmCham Investment Committee and the Future of Work and Education Committee, representatives from the business sector, legal experts, and HR specialists gathered on February 12, 2025, at the offices of Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & Partners to address current challenges and explore solutions for more efficient employment of foreign labor in Slovenia. The discussion shed light on the legal aspects of hiring foreign workers, facilitated the sharing of practical experiences, and highlighted proposed legislative changes that could accelerate employment procedures and create more favorable conditions for foreign workers in Slovenia.

Current Legislative Changes in the Employment of Foreigners

Polona Fink Ružič, partner at Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & Partners, presented key upcoming amendments to the Foreigners Act and the Employment, Self-Employment, and Work of Foreigners Act. She emphasized that there are no restrictions on hiring workers from the EU due to the free movement of labor. However, for workers from third countries, a single permit for residence and work must be obtained under the “one-stop-shop” system. Highly qualified professionals are eligible for the EU Blue Card.

The Intervention Act (ZUOPUE) abolished local jurisdiction for administrative units, thereby reducing the burden on offices in major cities. However, due to the lack of precise procedural guidelines, processes remain lengthy and complex. Incomplete applications are common, as online forms do not provide all the necessary information about required attachments, leading to additional submissions and further delays.

The objective of the amendments to Foreigners Act and the Employment, Self-Employment, and Work of Foreigners Act is to attract highly qualified workers from third countries and simplify employment procedures. Currently, Slovenia issues only 50 to 100 permits annually for such professionals. Proposed improvements include:

· Recognizing professional experience as proof of high qualifications, not just formal education;

· Lowering the salary threshold for the EU Blue Card to the level of the average annual gross salary;

· Increasing mobility for Blue Card holders, allowing work in Slovenia upon application submission;

· Introducing a single residence and work permit for digital nomads, valid for up to one year, without renewal options;

· Extending seasonal employment eligibility to the tourism and hospitality sectors;

· Extending the validity of the first single permit to two years to ease the burden on administrative units.

Key Labor Market Challenges in Slovenia

Tomaž Švajger, Sales Director at Heads Adriatic, outlined the key challenges of Slovenia’s labor market, where employers increasingly struggle with workforce shortages and lengthy foreign worker employment procedures. He highlighted:

· The complexity of procedures and lengthy bureaucratic requirements;

· Lack of flexibility in legislation for employing foreign workers;

· The urgent need for faster processing in key sectors suffering from workforce shortages;

· Better coordination between businesses, government institutions, and agencies in employment processes.

Formation of a Working Group for Legislative Improvement

One of the key conclusions of the event was the establishment of a working group, which, based on best practices and in collaboration with experts, will conduct a detailed analysis and work towards improving legislation on attracting and employing foreign workers.

The priority tasks of the working group will include analyzing the current situation, preparing a strategic document, and developing proposals to simplify procedures.

Participants emphasized that Slovenia needs more flexible and competitive conditions to attract foreign professionals. Without such reforms, it will be impossible to fill the growing labor market gaps. They also stressed the importance of cooperation between businesses, legislators, and experts in designing new measures to create a more attractive business environment for foreign talent in Slovenia.