Prime minister announces plan to move 50000 public workers to private sector

Prime Minister Janez Janša announced at the 58th Celje trade fair that approximately 50,000 public sector employees could be gradually and softly transitioned into the private economy. The prime minister stated that no one needs to be left without a job and that restructuring should be done gradually to satisfy the economy's demand for labor. He also mentioned 148,000 issued permits for foreign workers, attributing foreign hiring to past misallocation of resources. The announcement caused considerable astonishment, and the prime minister did not explain where the figure of 50,000 came from. Jakob Počivavšek, president of the Pergam trade union confederation, stated he does not know the details of the plan and will request a meeting of the negotiating commission. Počivavšek warned that the needs of the private sector are in complete contrast with the education and competencies of public sector employees. Branimir Štrukelj, president of the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions, criticized the simplified logic and warned that missing 50,000 people would deeply affect public services. Mitja Gorenšček from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia said the statement was surprising, noting that profiles like lawyers and economists could potentially transition if they gain specific knowledge. However, Gorenšček considers it unlikely that public servants would replace foreign workers who mainly occupy less demanding jobs in manufacturing, construction, transport, and tourism.

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Published

19 Sep 2026

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