Dušan Semolič, President of the Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia, emphasized that measures aimed against the social state cannot lead in the right direction. In his opinion the economic growth must be in the forefront, and the reduction of the budget deficit should follow. Unfortunately, the »religious« numbers stay in the forefront, i.e. 3 % GDP deficit, and the public debt of 60 % of GDP. He is convinced that: "our politicians are not capable of saying no to the European politics. What should not be sold is being sold off, while the sale of Telekom Slovenija exposed the philosophy of our government.«

And which are the syndicates' suggestions? Here you can find only a few of the proposed measures: introduction of electronic tax registers (which should bring approximately 300 million euros into the budget); investigation of all (!) management buyouts of companies, without exceptions; common public procurements; reduced number of municipalities: elimination of bureaucracy, however not on account of lesser standards for protection; improvements of building energy efficiency; increase in population purchasing power by preventing cuts of salaries and pensions: revision of bank loans given without adequate insurance; more efficient corporate management; sanitation of banking system; revision of penal legislation and changes of insolvency legislation; suppression of the 'chaining' of companies; uniting of compulsory and supplemental health insurance …

"Was capitalism what we wanted? The answer is - no. We wanted modern market economy, like in Switzerland, Austria. or Scandinavia," Janez Posedi (Pergam) informed the audience. He claims the reason we pay for substantial loans is not the fact that we are deeply in debt, but the fact we have no idea what to do in next five years. According to Branko Celinšek (president of the Workers' Trade Union - Solidarity) the key problem of Slovenia is the fact that we are dealing only with consequences, as we stopped dealing with causes.

The new work reform will not pass easily
Peter Majcen, President of the Trade Union Confederation 90, reminded the audience that the list of the measures was incomplete, and that they are willing to complete it if the government proves willing. The commissions are already making adjustments on undeclared work, on work inspection, and regulatory redemption. He warned that it would be very difficult to reopen the negotiations on modifications of work legislation, and no deregulation in trade will be allowed.

"Syndicate proposals a problem, not a solution"
The Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia has already responded to the proposals, deeming them. They wrote that such proposals by syndicates would lead into a trap of incurring debts, and they labelled them as a part »of the old economic policy«. In the Chamber of Commerce they believe that "Slovenia has no more time for ideological discussions, we must make some pragmatic moves. The turnover is possible only with a new economic policy, new social agreement between work, capital and politics, based on new workplaces in economy and in export."

Andrej Čebokli, MMC
Translation: G. K.