Slovenia considers stricter residency rules for foreign workers

Slovenia is considering significant amendments to its Aliens Act that could impact thousands of foreign workers, particularly those from Bosnia and Herzegovina. A key proposal involves doubling the required monthly proof of financial means from approximately 507 euros to over 1,014 euros. Other proposed changes include stricter family reunification rules and higher Slovenian language proficiency requirements.

While these legislative changes are still in the inter-ministerial coordination phase, advocacy groups warn that the increased financial threshold could make legal residency difficult for low-wage earners. The new threshold would be nearly equivalent to Slovenia's projected minimum net wage.

In a broader economic context, the wage gap between Croatia and Slovenia is narrowing. Data shows that since June 2016, average net wages in Croatia have increased by 106 percent, compared to 69 percent in Slovenia. As of June, the difference in average net monthly pay has shrunk to 168 euros, with Croatia at 1,555 euros and Slovenia at 1,723 euros. Despite this convergence, analysts note that the Slovenian economy remains more productive.