Slovenia approves budget plans with public sector workforce reductions

Slovenian budget public sector reforms employment restructuring fiscal policy labor shortages

The Slovenian government has approved budget proposals for 2027 and 2028, aiming to reduce the budget deficit to 2% of GDP by 2028. Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj confirmed that no new taxes will be introduced.

A central component of the government's strategy involves significant restructuring of the public sector. Prime Minister Janez Janša has proposed a gradual transition of approximately 50,000 public sector employees into the private economy to address labor shortages and increase productivity. Reports indicate plans to reduce the number of employees in the public sector and municipalities by 10% in 2027 and an additional 10% in 2028, with exceptions for the police, military, and financial administration.

Public sector unions have expressed strong opposition to these measures, labeling them as a plan for the privatization of public services through outsourcing. The Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions warned that such cuts could undermine the quality and accessibility of essential public services and criticized the government for a lack of social dialogue and professional analysis regarding the proposed workforce reductions.

Entities

Andrej Šircelj · Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions of Slovenia · Government of Slovenia · Janez Janša · Konfederacija sindikatov javnega sektorja · National Assembly of Slovenia · Slovenia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Planned expenditures for 2027 and 2028 are set at 18.4 billion euros and 19.1 billion euros, respectively. www.24ur.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The government aims for an additional 10 percent reduction in public sector staff in 2028. www.24ur.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The government plans to reduce the number of public sector and municipal employees by 10 percent in 2027. www.24ur.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Planned workforce cuts exclude the police, the Slovenian Army, the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, and the Financial Administration. www.24ur.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2026 budget deficit is projected to be 2.2 billion euros, or 2.9 percent of GDP. obalaplus.si
[○ 1 SOURCE] Public sector unions warned that proposed cuts could weaken the quality and accessibility of public services. www.24ur.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2026 budget rebalance sets revenues at 16.5 billion euros and expenditures at 18.8 billion euros. obalaplus.si
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Slovenian National Assembly approved the 2026 budget rebalance. obalaplus.si