20 Jun 2022, 13:28 PM

Fuel Supplies Secure, Despite Some Shortages Due to Tuesday’s Price Rise

STA, 20 June 2022 - As drivers are rushing to service stations in anticipation of a price hike on Tuesday, which resulted in some stations running out of fuel, Economy Minister Matjaž Han assured the public that there were sufficient reserves of fuel. This is not a major market disruption, but a logistical problem, he said, also announcing inspections.

Speaking to the press in Ljubljana on Monday, Han admitted that occasional shortages of fuel had occurred in some parts of the country over the weekend, and that this was also happening today.

The minister noted that distributors reported that sales had more than doubled, adding that nevertheless there should be no fears that Slovenia would run out of motor fuels, which was also being guaranteed by distributors.

According to Han, the problems are related to logistics, which is in part a normal occurrence ahead of announced changes in prices.

He, however, also noted that traffic had been heavy in Slovenia over the weekend due to holidays in the neighbouring countries, which had also slowed down the delivery of fuel to petrol stations.

The commodity reserves of petroleum are full, Han said, explaining that the state could release them only in the event of major market disruptions, which was currently not the case.

The minister noted that the state could not release commodity reserves to regulate prices of petroleum products, as the quantity of commodity reserves was required by the EU. "There are enough [reserves] for 90 days in case of any disturbances."

The ministry is closely monitoring the developments, and a meeting with distributors will be held today to clarify the situation.

What is more, market inspectors are on the ground to examine whether retailers comply with the current regulated price and to examine sales and stocks, and whether consumers are possibly being mislead, the minister said.

"If it turns out that there have been violations of law, our inspection services will take action," he said, adding that the first information will be available already this afternoon.

The demand for motor fuel has increased after the government last week adopted a decree that reintroduces regulation of prices of regular petrol and diesel outside of the motorway network for a year, and liberalises prices on the motorway network.

The decree that also suspended certain environmental duties that determine the final price of fuel ends the regulation that entered into force on 11 May and that set the price of regular petrol at EUR 1.56 and diesel at EUR 1.668 per litre.

"The price at petrol stations outside motorways will be set every 14 days under the model set out in the regulation," said Han, who expects that the prices on motorways will be similar to those in the neighbouring countries, despite the inevitable increases.

Considering the recent rise in petroleum and petroleum products and the still weak exchange rate for the euro, a significant rise in prices is expected on Tuesday despite the restrictions on margins and the abolition of certain excise duties.

The business newspaper Finance has calculated that the price of regular petrol in Slovenia will increase to EUR 1.74 and that of diesel to EUR 1.81 per litre. Han said that the official prices would be known around 5pm today.

Han also touched on aid to farmers and hauliers, saying that the precise measures to help hauliers have not yet been agreed, as the government was waiting for concrete proposals from the other side. Farmers are expected to be reimbursed for excise duties.

The minister announced that the government will reject all claims for damages due to price regulations filed by fuel retailers, noting that "we have no data or basis on which these claims have been filed."

"We will start talks with retailers today about how, if at all, the state will reimburse them retroactively," Han said.

The previous government had indicated it would reimburse the fuel trades for the loss of income from a period in the spring when prices were capped, but the previous economy minister had later said this would not entail automatic reimbursement.

19 Jun 2022, 16:28 PM

Shortages Reported at Some Petrol Stations Before Tuesday's Price Rise

STA, 19 June 2022 - Owners of motor vehicles are heading for Slovenian service stations en masse on Sunday as regular petrol and diesel prices are expected to rise considerably when a new pricing model kicks in on Tuesday. All three major fuels providers, Petrol, OMV and MOL, have experienced occasional shortages today.

Today's demand considerably exceeds the long-term daily average demand so individual service stations have had some minor shortages, fuel company Petrol told the STA.

In recent months, this has been the case primarily at the petrol stations where large fuel customers such as farmers fill up.

However, supply has already been increased to meet the demand, although increased traffic and occasional congestion on Slovenian roads, as well as time limits imposed on motorways for trucks carrying fuel delay deliveries.

Nevertheless, the largest fuel retailer said that they are well stocked so there is no fear of fuel shortages.

24ur.com news site meanwhile reported that their users from around the country have sent in information that diesel and petrol or both are not available at some Petrol and OMV Slovenija service stations, where signs have been put up saying "currently out of stock due to increased demand".

MOL Slovenija initially experienced no problems, but the situation has already deteriorated.

Demand is additionally driven by numerous tourists filling up as they are returning home from the seaside, especially from Croatia, which has higher fuel prices.

On Wednesday, the government decided to return on 21 June to a pricing model where fuel retailers' price margins at service stations outside motorways are regulated while prices of fuels sold along motorways will be fully liberalised.

The new regime, which Slovenia had until a few years ago before it gradually introduced full liberalisation, will be in place for a year.

The new regime brings to an end the regime the previous government introduced on 11 May that capped the retail price of regular petrol at EUR 1.560 a litre and diesel at EUR 1.668 for the entire country amid the increasing cost-of-living crisis. As a result, prices are currently much lower than in the country's neighbours, except Hungary.

16 Jun 2022, 15:12 PM

Spanish Group to Manage Ljubljana’s Grand Hotel Union, Hotel Lev & uHotel

STA, 16 June 2022 - Slovenian real estate fund Equinox will transfer management of three hotels in the centre of Ljubljana, among them the iconic Grand Hotel Union, to Spanish group Grupo Hotusa for 20 years with the option of two five-year extensions, its executive director Matej Rigelnik told the press on Thursday. The deal is worth at least EUR 100 million.

The Spanish group will manage Grand Hotel Union, Hotel Lev and uHotel, with Exqinox entitled to a minimum rent regardless of how well they do, which translates into more than EUR 100 million in 20 years. The contract also sets down a variable part of the rent which will depend on revenue growth, Rigelnik said.

Equinox was incorporated in May 2021 with the split of the real estate branch from Union Hoteli Group, which runs the three hotels and has been renamed Union Hotels Collection.

Concluding the deal with Grupo Hotusa, Equinox "has set itself on the path of a proper real estate firm", Rigelnik said.

"We're aware that the current ownership structure of Union Hotels Collection and Equinox, where we have practically the same corporate management, entails a significant conflict of interest, which will be eliminated with the management of these properties being transferred on to a foreign strategic partner."

He believes this will have a positive impact on Equinox's value.

He said the business model they pursue is well known in the West, where owners, investors, operators and brands are not under the same umbrella. A clear division is important because there are specifics in managing property or operating a company, he stressed.

Rigelnik finds this business model more sustainable, and at a time of a complex macroeconomic situation, such as the war in Ukraine or inflation, also less risky.

Equinox will generate income from rents, with the difference between rents and costs to be paid to shareholders in the form of dividends.

Rigelnik was however more reserved when talking about Union Hotels Collection, saying only that the Spanish group will take over its employees.

Clara Lopez Sanjurjo from Grupo Hotusa said the group had more than 40 years of experience in various segments of tourism.

Its hotel management business, Eurostars Hotels, was founded in 2005, has 5,000 staff and manages 235 hotels in 17 countries on five continents, the three Slovenian hotels excluded.

It is the leading hotel chain in Spain and the ninth in Europe, she said, adding that one of the reasons they had chosen Ljubljana was its history and the location at the heart of Europe, a developing economy, its increasing popularity among tourists, as well as safety and favourable environmental parameters.

Given the group's appreciation of the cultural heritage of cities and hotels, she said they will keep the name of Grand Hotel Union, which opened back in 1905.

Following the news conference, trading in Equinox shares resumed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange after it was suspended on Wednesday.

16 Jun 2022, 14:25 PM

Slovenia Considering Regulating Gas, Electricity Prices, Will Monitor Food Costs

STA, 16 June 2022 - Prime Minister Robert Golob has announced regulation of gas and electricity prices as possible additional measures to fight price hikes, adding that the government also intends to make public the prices of the basic food basket at individual retailers.

Speaking for the commercial POP TV and the public broadcaster TV Slovenija on Wednesday evening, Golob said that several measures were being planned when it came to the high electricity and gas prices.

He announced that legislation was in the works that would enable "regulation of electricity and gas prices also for households and all individual consumers, for example in multi-apartment buildings and the like."

Golob explained yesterday's government decision to regulate the prices of motor fuels outside the motorway network and re-liberalise them along the motorways for one year by saying that "consumers expect predictability and comparability with other countries."

"The system being introduced brings exactly this," the prime minister said, noting that EUR 150 million in claims from fuel retailers to be compensated for losses related to the government regulation had been filed in less than two months.

The prime minister said that such a model was unsustainable, and such retroactive claims are inappropriate, adding that the government would continue to negotiate with fuel retailers over this issue.

The largest Slovenian fuel retailer Petrol welcomed the announced abolition of full regulation of prices that has been in force since 11 May, and also from mid-March and the end of April.

The company said that the current model was disproportionate and unsustainable. "It only burdens retailers of petroleum products, who are forced to sell fuel below the purchase costs, every litre sold is a loss," it added.

The fuel retailer OMV Slovenija also commented on the damage claims, saying that it had not received any feedback from the relevant ministries so far. "We expect an invitation for a coordinating meeting from the government," the company added.

Golob also announced talks with food retailers. He noted that these had very different prices and margins, so the government would make it very clear where the prices of the basic food basket were low "and where they are obviously astronomical".

He noted that the government would not do negative advertising, but positive advertising for those who would demonstrate the lowest prices of the basic food basket and the lowest margins.

15 Jun 2022, 17:09 PM

Two-Tier Fuel Pricing Model Reintroduced

STA, 15 June 2022 - Prime Minister Robert Golob set out the first government measure to tackle the cost-of-living crisis on Wednesday, announcing a return to a model where fuel retailers' price margins at service stations outside motorways are regulated while prices of fuels sold along motorways will be liberalised. The new regime will kick in for a year on 21 June.

Oil prices have gone up from EUR 70 per tonne a year and a half ago to over EUR 120, which has not been reflected fully in retail prices, Golob said, adding that Slovenia had different price regimes during this period.

"We had a regime that forcibly introduced regulation of retail prices. That's why we now have millions [of euros] worth of claims for compensation of damages [from fuel retailers]. This regime is totally unsustainable," said Golob.

"Outside motorways the market unfortunately doesn't work. All the providers have almost identical prices all the time. If the market doesn't work a return to retailers' margin regulation makes sense," he said.

The government was looking to find a balance between market prices where "each one of us, the state, retailers and consumers, carry a part of the burden".

Under the new model fuel prices would be similar to those in Croatia, but below those in Austria or Italy. Given Tuesday's stock market prices, regular petrol sold outside motorways could go up to just above EUR 1.70 a litre and on motorways by up to 20% and more.

"We've been looking at how much our consumers can take," said Golob.

The previous government reintroduced regulation of prices of motor fuels in May, less than two weeks after it lifted previous price caps. Since 11 May, the maximum retail price has been set at EUR 1.560 a litre for regular and EUR 1.668 a litre for diesel. Wholesale prices have also been capped.

Golob said the government's position was that fuel companies' claims to be reimbursed for damages as a result of being forced to sell at lower prices were unwarranted, but added that more would be clear after meetings with them.

Economy Minister Matjaž Han said the government had to act fast as fuel prices affected everyone and the current regulation was causing the state a major shortfall which potential reimbursements to retailers could raise to hundreds of millions of euros by the year's end.

The government will also introduce some mitigation measures on 1 July, which it plans to adopt next week. Golob mentioned a 16% increase in the tax-free amount of commuting cost reimbursement, an increase in the reimbursement of excise duties for public passenger transport providers and a relief for farmers.

Today, the government temporarily abolished a number of environmental taxes, including the tax on CO2 emissions for diesel, petrol, heating oil and natural gas. This will be in place until 17 August.

Moreover, the cabinet abolished contributions for electricity production using high shares of renewables. This will be in place for a year at the longest. It also reduced to zero the energy efficiency duty.

Together with hauliers, the government will start looking for solutions to prevent fuel price increases from spilling over into higher prices of food and other commodities.

Measures to tackle rising food prices are to follow in June and those to deal with the rising cost of electricity and heating in the first half of July.

"There's enough time to take action. These measures will also follow the same principle as for petroleum products, that is predictability for all stakeholders," said Golob.

14 Jun 2022, 10:38 AM

PM Golob Promotes Development of Maribor, Eastern Slovenia

STA 13 June 2022 - Prime Minister Robert Golob visited Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, on Monday, underlining that the only right way forward for the country is polycentric development. He believes the eastern half of the country needs a capital that would equal Ljubljana, adding that Maribor has a lot to offer.

The prime minister believes that Maribor may develop better in the future and that the city will gain back "some of its former splendour".

Pointing out an example of good practice of a decentralised state, Golob talked about the Energy Agency, which is based in Maribor.

"This is one of the few, I'm afraid even the only state institution which has been based in Maribor ever since it was established. It is independent and doing a very good job."

The prime minister believes that Maribor has enough human resources and expertise for an institution of such a calibre.

He believes that decentralisation must be based on advantages of individual areas. One cannot expect that all regions will develop equally in all fields, he said, adding that north-eastern Slovenia had the most potential in agriculture.

Predsednik vlade ?? dr. Robert Golob obisk v Mariboru zaključuje v Ljudskem vrtu, kjer je od predsednika @nkmaribor Draga Cotarja prejel dres 16-kratnih državnih prvakov v nogometu. pic.twitter.com/E9m6XgOBaG
— Vlada Republike Slovenije (@vladaRS) June 13, 2022

Golob was accompanied on his working visit by Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh and Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food Irena Šinko.

Among other things, they visited the Energy Agency and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, discussing government's priorities, including green transition, food, agriculture and self-sufficiency.

Maribor University Rector Zdravko Kačič welcomed Golob's decision to make Maribor the destination of his first visit in his role as prime minister.

"His words show support for our efforts and understanding of the situation in which Maribor and the entire Eastern Cohesion Region have found themselves" as regards unfavourable trends in people commuting daily from Slovenia's border areas to Austria for work, said Kačič.

Golob also met Maribor Mayor Saša Arsenovič. The latter told the press they discussed a number of topics, including regional development and de-bureaucratisation, as well as elderly care, youth and work force drain.

"We also agreed that greater support will be needed for the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy ... to boost the success of drawing funds from direct operations, not only for projects aimed at closing development gaps between regions," said Arsenovič.

When asked whether Golob and Arsenovič discussed possible cooperation for the upcoming local election, the mayor said "not in the least", while Golob said his Freedom Movement would have its own candidates contend in all urban municipalities. Slovenia has 212 municipalities, of which 12 have urban municipalities.

Golob said he would visit Maribor again soon alongside Health Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan to discuss health care. He said the Health Ministry had started working on a Covid exit strategy.

13 Jun 2022, 15:17 PM

Breakthrough at First Koper-Divača Rail Track Tunnel

STA, 13 June 2022 - The first of the seven tunnels on route of the new railway linking the port town of Koper with the Divača railway junction was broken through on Monday with officials telling the ceremony they could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The hole-through ceremony for the Mlinarji tunnel was attended by the infrastructure ministers from Slovenia and Turkey as the track is being built by the Slovenian company Kolektor CPG in cooperation with its Turkish partners Yapi Merkezi and Özaltin.

Slated for completion in 2025, with the track due to open the following year, the project is valued at little below one billion euros in total, but officials today indicated its price tag could increase by up to EUR 100 million due to rising prices.

In his address, Slovenian Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer recalled the long history of the project, expressing pleasure at being able to be present at such an important milestone.

The new track, taking a completely new route to the existing railway between Koper and Divača, is to increase the maximum throughput capacity from 94 to 212 trains daily and the transport capacity from the current 14 million to 36.9 million tonnes a year.

"The distance will be cut from 44 kilometres to 27 kilometres. Travel times and the impact on the environment and local population will be reduced," Kumer said.

Minister za infrastrukturo Bojan Kumer je poudaril, da je preboj predorske cevi Mlinarji izjemno pomemben mejnik v dolgotrajnem projektu izgradnje 2. tira žel. proge Divača – Koper. Kot je dejal minister, je tokrat res primerna prispodoba, da končno »vidimo luč na koncu predora«. pic.twitter.com/ILfmGZYrjZ
— Ministrstvo za infrastrukturo (@mzi_rs) June 13, 2022

He pledged for the new government to fast-track the implementation of a double-track line, which will allow for even more traffic and let the people living along the existing railway live a safe and peaceful life.

Pavle Hevka, the CEO of 2TDK, the state-run company managing the project, said the work on the track was 43 days ahead of the schedule, and in the case of the Milinarji tunnel 10% below the budget of EUR 7 million.

Just days ago they had excavated five out of a total of 37 kilometres of tunnels. "We're still looking at many challenges and concerns ahead, from rising prices of materials to difficulties getting work permits, but I'm confident we’ll beat them off on time."

Hevka said 2TDK was facing demands for annexes to contracts due to rising prices. The proposal was for the contracting authority to cover price hikes above 10%, which would now need to be discussed by the Infrastructure Ministry.

He also announced an update of the investment plan with the rough estimate being that the cost of the project could increase by EUR 100 million. However, he also pointed to "huge savings" that had been made.

The minister said he had been assured by the Turkish contractors they had everything under control and supplies guaranteed. "It's true that prices are going up. We'll see what it means for the investment going forward."

Kumer would not talk about potential replacements at the helm of 2TDK beyond saying the state of play would be reviewed.

The ceremony also featured Alenka Bratušek, a state secretary at the ministry and a former infrastructure minister, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoglu and representatives of the contractors.

10 Jun 2022, 17:43 PM

AmCham Names Slovenia’s Top Potentials for 2022

STA, 10 June 2022 - Aljaž Dobnikar, a software development engineer at Plume Design, and Matej Duraković, a talent acquisition partner at IBM Slovenija, were declared Top Potentials of the Year by AmCham Slovenia on Thursday evening.

Dobnikar and Duraković were selected among the five superfinalists in the 12th generation of the AmCham Young Professionals programme.

The other superfinalists were Diana Berte, a marketing & China relations specialist at Instrumentation Technologies, Marko Maučec, director of development and co-owner of Escapebox, and Tjaša Tomšič, chief operating officer at PDiVizija.

The winners were selected by their colleagues, a panel of experts and the audience present at the award ceremony on Thursday.

"The young are those who inspire us to want to be better and do more as a business community. This is why I believe the young platform is the best that AmCham can give, not only to Slovenia but also to Europe and worldwide," Ajša Vodnik, CEO of AmCham Slovenia, said.

The Top Potential of the Year awards is part of the Young Professionals Programme through which AmCham promotes and trains next generation business leaders.

Young leaders, aged 25 to 35, are suggested for the programme by their superiors. The programme features workshops, lectures, debates with business leaders, field visits and a weekend meeting, among other activities.

09 Jun 2022, 15:27 PM

Fishpacking Companies Accused of “Modern Slavery” Banned from Hiring Foreign Workers

STA, 9 June 2022 - The Kozina fishpacking companies exposed for alleged modern slavery practices earlier this week have been issued a ban on working with foreign workers as the authorities are looking into suspicions of forced labour and human trafficking.

Fishpacking Plant in Kozina Linked to Former State Secretary Accused of Exploiting Staff

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Jadranko Grlić, the chief labour inspector, said the maltreatment of workers, first reported about by TV Slovenija and then confirmed by an NGO helping migrant workers at a press conference on Wednesday, was unacceptable.

The companies concerned are owned by the family of Boris Šuštar, who in the early 2000s was convicted for taking bribes while serving as a state secretary in 1997-2000.

Grlić noted that labour inspectors had already conducted inspections at the companies Marinblu and Selea in the past, taking measures. TV Slovenija on Tuesday reported those concerned infringements over pay, holiday allowance, work hours, breaks and rest.

Prompted by new allegations of severe violations, for which the worker support NGO Delavska Svetovalnica filed a criminal complaint against the companies with the Koper prosecution office last week, inspectors resumed their oversight together with the Financial Administration and the police in late May. Grlić said inspections were also under way since early this morning.

The inspectors have found the companies have been provided with foreign labour force by a broker that is not registered as an agency to supply labour force so the companies will be banned from working with foreign workers. The companies have also been banned from operating certain machinery until they have provided relevant proofs the machines are safe to operate.

Both Grlić and Economy Ministry State Secretary Dan Juvan urged workers to report violations on time with Juvan promising the ministry would protect them.

Juvan also announced enhanced inspection oversight and legislative changes to make it easier to prosecute this type of crime.

He said the violations reported by the media were not just violations of labour laws but of basic norms of the civilisation, which happened daily in third world countries but obviously in Slovenia as well. "We cannot pretend this is a lone case."

"Companies that apply such practices have no place in Slovenia," said Juvan, pledging for the ministry to do all in its power for such brutal exploitation to stop.

He said the information and inquiries so far indicated suspicion of the crime of forced labour, one of the signs of human trafficking. This is also currently being assessed by the competent law enforcement authorities. Such an offence carries a prison sentence of between one and 10 years and a fine, regardless of the victim's potential consent.

Each worker suspected of being a victim of such crime is entitled to support, assistance and safe accommodation. If it turns out they have indeed been subject to forced labour and trafficking, they are entitled to free access to the labour market, Juvan said, hoping for a solution to find another, decent work for the workers concerned.

Rosana Šuštar, director of Marinblu and Selea, dismissed the allegations about human exploitation, workplace bullying and non-payment of wages. Holding a press conference, she confirmed that inspections were currently under way at both companies.

The companies have received warnings by the Labour Inspectorate and have to rectify the irregularities within a set deadline, she said.

The Portuguese broker that provided the two companies with foreign labour force has been asked to register its activity in Slovenia within 15 days. At the moment, Marinblu and Selea are permitted to continue to employ their Indian workers, and production has not been halted, the director said.

Commenting on accusations that the Indian workers had been sleeping on the floor in the plant's warehouse, she said that this was supposed to be a temporary arrangement only until another accommodation is ready.

Šuštar said that the companies had never received any fines by relevant inspectors, only warnings, which they had heeded.

08 Jun 2022, 15:29 PM

Fishpacking Plant in Kozina Linked to Former State Secretary Accused of Exploiting Staff

STA, 8 June 2022 - A fishpacking plant owned by the family of Boris Šuštar, a former state secretary convicted of passive bribery, has been faced with allegations about forcing their workers to work ceaselessly for a pittance and creating intolerable working conditions. A charge has been filed against the company for suspected worker exploitation.

Šuštar, who was state secretary at the Economy Ministry in 1997-2000, co-founded the seafood wholesale Marinblu with his wife, Rozana Šuštar, as well as another affiliated company Selea. Together they run the fishpacking facility in Kozina in the south-west of the country, near the border with Italy.

Allegations have now emerged that their employees are forced to work long hours or overtime and are pushed to the brink of exhaustion for a maximum of EUR 3.9 per hour, as one of the workers told the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija in a piece that was aired on Tuesday evening.

They allegedly receive no overtime pay, or if they do, it is less than it should have been and under the table. Moreover, the company subtracts from their wages employment costs that should have been covered by the employer, the anonymous worker revealed for the public broadcaster.

What also came to light are screenshots of employer-employee Viber conversations that show that the company monitors their workers non-stop. They are rebuked via the instant messaging app for what the Šuštar family sees as taking too many breaks or not working good enough.

"Go for a snack during a break, don't go for a snack a hundred times even if you work 15 hours. Hang in there, we're all in the same boat," reads one of such rebukes. Another one says: "Every minute counts. What are you waiting for!?????"

"Total terror through video surveillance. Cameras are monitoring you, there is no free time, your private life is invaded with constant phone calls; these workers are completely physically, mentally, financially and emotionally exhausted.

"This is clearly a situation of systematic exploitation of workers. Such a company must not exist! And what is even more horrifying is that they try to indoctrinate workers by a clever manipulation to make them believe they are all in the same boat, meaning the owner (employer) and the workers," said Goran Lukič with Delavska Svetovalnica, an NGO protecting the rights of workers, especially migrant workers.

Last week, the organisation filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office in Koper against both Marinblu and Selea for suspected violations of workers' rights.

RTV Slovenija noted that the concept of "them all being in the same boat" appears to be even more absurd when taking a look at social media profiles of Šuštar family members, who appear to be living an extravagant life, indulging in luxury cruises and parties.

Meanwhile, allegations also accuse them of treating their workers with disrespect and humiliating them. The workers are, for example, marked on the timesheets simply by "Ukrainian 1" or "Ukrainian 2".

The anonymous worker also shared a story of Boris Šuštar coming to the facility, pulling his trousers down to his knees, turning to his employees and telling them they could kiss him on the ass.

Marinblu and Selea employ some 20 workers, most are believed to be from Western Balkan countries or third countries. RTV Slovenija reported that scenes such as Indian workers sleeping on the floor of the plant's warehouse are nothing unusual at the companies, and neither is the fact that the worker who shared his story had worked for 12 hours a day on average and once even for 40 hours non-stop.

Rozana Šuštar, Marinblu director, rejected all the allegations, saying that all their employees worked in accordance with relevant labour laws. She also dismissed allegations that labour inspectors found breaches of labour laws in Selea in the last three years.

The Labour Inspectorate meanwhile said that it had carried out several inspections at Marinblu and Selea in the past, during which it found violations in the areas of wages, holiday bonus, working time, breaks and rest periods.

Economy Minister Matjaž Han said he was "appalled at the working conditions" at the two companies. He expects the competent authorities will immediately do their job and prevent the exploitation of workers.

"Slovenia must be a role model of a well regulated economy in which strict labour rules and environmental standards are respected," he was quoted as saying by the ministry.

Boris Šuštar was sentenced to two years in prison in 2004 for accepting bribes as state secretary. After his release on parole, he was again sentenced to imprisonment in 2007 in a separate trial for fraud during his time as state secretary. He fled to Canada during the second trial while being on parole.

He was extradited to Slovenia in the same year based on an international arrest warrant. He was sentenced to another five and a half years in prison for abuse of office, but was again released on parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence. His EUR 800,000 compensation claim against the state was rejected.

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