Can the 80-90-100 model be applied in Serbia?
Employees in Slovenia who are approaching retirement will, from 1 January next year, have the option to spend less time at work if they wish. This will be made possible by a new law that comes into force on that date.
Alongside a number of measures aimed at improving workers’ rights, the law stipulates that those who are “one step away from retirement” will be entitled to a shorter working week.
If they are 58 years old or have at least 35 years of work experience, they will gain the right to choose between two options that allow for a reduced workweek. The first option is having Fridays off, thereby giving them a “long weekend”, while the second is working shorter hours – six hours per day.
The 80-90-100 Model – What it means
This model in Slovenia is called 80-90-100 because it provides for 80 percent working hours, 90 percent of the salary, and full contributions as if working 100 percent. The system partially draws on experiences from Iceland, Ireland, and Germany, where similar models have produced positive results, including increased employee productivity and work efficiency, as well as a reduction in absenteeism.
The legislative changes are primarily the result of efforts by the Slovenian Ministry of Labour, headed by Luka Mesec of the Levica party. Should these reforms prove successful, the authorities in Slovenia indicate that labour regulations will be further liberalised. This would include additional pay for Saturday work, a mandatory Christmas bonus for all employees, and the introduction of a 38-hour working week.
Although the Slovenian government has adopted the new law, not all ministers welcomed it enthusiastically. The Minister of Finance, Klemen Boštjančič, expressed reservations regarding the financial burden these measures might impose.
How this measure will play out in Slovenia remains to be seen. However, NIN explored whether a similar approach could be implemented in Serbia. Experts, employers, and trade union representatives say the idea is acceptable as humane and fair. Nevertheless, employers express some concern about who would bear the cost of reduced working hours.
Could the working week be shortened in Serbia?
Professor Mihail Arandarenko of the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade told NIN that similar benefits for workers already exist in other European countries, and that, from this perspective, the Slovenian example is not particularly revolutionary.
“These are recommendations from the European Union on active ageing. The goal of these recommendations is to prevent older employees from burning out at work and to ensure that their only motivation for working is not simply the date of their retirement. Therefore, all these measures, including the one soon to take effect in Slovenia, should be supported. On one hand, the work duties of older employees will be adjusted to their age, and on the other, since they will not be working at full capacity, some will be motivated to continue working even after retirement. This is certainly a benefit for employers. It is quite reasonable to ease the workload of those nearing retirement by freeing them from shift work, night work, and other duties unsuitable for their age,” our interlocutor explains.
The honorary president of the Serbian Employers’ Union, Nebojša Atanacković, told NIN that the Slovenian model is humane and socially responsible, and should therefore be supported. He believes that such a solution would, without doubt, be warmly welcomed by employees in Serbia.
“From that perspective, there is nothing problematic. What must be resolved, however, is who would cover the costs of reduced working hours. These workers would work less, and it would be fair that the financial burden should not fall on businesses, but rather be largely or fully covered by the state. It is the state that should carry out social policy, not employers. Otherwise, if this obligation were imposed on employers, it would have the opposite effect, as the companies they run would become less efficient. This would inevitably have a negative impact on their operations,” he concludes.
The role of advanced technology
Such a model should also be implemented in Serbia, and this would be both possible and facilitated, among other things, by the emergence of new technologies, said the President of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Ivica Cvetanović, in an interview with NIN.
“Technology has advanced greatly today. Artificial intelligence has appeared and significantly assists in carrying out work activities, creating conditions in which, at least in certain sectors, a five-day working week is no longer necessary. This makes it possible to provide employees nearing retirement with certain reliefs in performing their duties in line with their age,” our interlocutor explains. According to him, this should only be the first step towards introducing a four-day working week, which is what the trade union centre he heads is advocating.
“We have submitted such a proposal to the relevant authorities, specifically the Ministry of Labour, but we have not received an official response. We were only told verbally that what we are proposing depends on the employers. Our opinion is that this should be an obligation for all employers, established by the state. There are already companies in Serbia with a four-day working week. According to our information, productivity in these companies has not decreased; on the contrary, it has actually increased. Therefore, there is a logical basis for reducing the number of working days, as this would make workers more satisfied and, consequently, more productive. As a first step, we should follow what has been formalised in Slovenia, and I am not at all surprised that a consensus among social partners was reached there, since social dialogue in that country takes place at a much higher and more serious level than it does here,” Cvetanović emphasises.
Changes to labour regulations in Slovenia introduce further benefits for employees, some of which apply specifically to older workers. Thus, from 1 January 2026, the maximum amount that dismissed workers in Slovenia will receive during the first three months after termination of employment will amount to 130 percent of the average gross minimum wage. If they do not find employment after that period, they will receive compensation amounting to 110 percent.
Those engaged in public works will enjoy higher hourly rates and improved working conditions. Incentives are also planned for employing individuals over the age of 59, as well as an increase in the permitted number of hours for occasional and temporary work. For pensioners, the monthly work limit will be raised from 60 to 85 hours, thereby proportionally increasing the maximum income they can earn through employment.
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