Slovenia’s government is proposing a set of legislative changes to facilitate recruitment of foreign labour as the country grapples with staff shortages, reports The Slovenia Times. Amendments to the ‘Foreigners Act’ and the changes to the employment, self-employment and work of the Foreigners Act seek to simplify procedures and cut red tape in order to expedite residence permits and registration certificates, which are required to employ foreigners.

“The task of this government is to substantially ease procedures to obtain work permits in Slovenia, in particular for those who are already here, to make it easier for them to decide to stay here,” Prime Minister Robert Golob said.

The proposals are to be rushed through parliament because the country faces a staffing crisis and administrative procedures are ‘taking too long’. Apart from removing the administrative barriers in issuing temporary residence permits, the changes to the Foreigners Act adopted by the government on 9 March 2023 reinstate free Slovenian courses for foreigners. The Interior Ministry said the proposal needs to be fast-tracked because changes to the financing of Slovenian courses will come into force at the end of April this year.