Employer of Record in Slovenia

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​​published on 9 April 2024 | reading time approx. 5 minutes


To hire an employee in Slovenia compliantly and offer them mandatory benefits and compliant agreements, there are two common options: establish your own new legal entity, banking, accounting and payroll service in Slovenia or use an Employer of Record, who can handle all of the details for you. In the bellow article we invite you to find out more about EoR in Slovenia​



Is the concept of EoR known in your country? Is the concept of EoR regulated by law in your country?

The concept of the Employer of Record (“EoR”) is not directly known in Slovenia, although some (but few) companies offer such services on the market. But on closer inspection, it shows that such services are more likely to be considered as temporary employment. Therefore, it is not possible to speak of a 100 percent recognised EoR concept in Slovenia, but rather of employee leasing, which is essentially similar to the EoR concept.

Temporary employment – as a substitute for the EoR concept – in Slovenia is legally regulated particularly in the Employment Relationships Act ("ZDR-1") and the Labour Market Regulation Act ("ZUTD"). Legal practice has followed this legal situation and regulates some important aspects.
 
Due to some restrictions in connection with temporary employment resulting from the legal framework, there is a higher demand for alternatives to the conventional employment, especially from local employers. Due to practical legal restrictions, the demand from employers from EU member states is very low and from employers from third countries is almost non-existent. The latter must at least establish a branch in Slovenia to carry out their activities and can then acquire potential temporary workers with the help of this branch as a Slovenian employer.

Is the EoR concept similar to temporary employment/labour leasing in your country?

The main difference is that not every employer is allowed to carry out activities that are close to the EoR.  The concept of EoR in Slovenia is very close to that of temporary employment. It should be noted that an activity that de facto constitutes temporary employment and enables the user (i.e. the actual employer) to supervise the employee's daily work and give instructions is only possible under the conditions of the ZUTD. Among other things, this also regulates mandatory registration. Specifically, this means that in Slovenia only companies that fulfil the conditions of the ZUTD are allowed to carry out activities similar to the EoR, namely the provision of temporary workers.

It is also important to note that employees may not be provided to any employer, as the following restrictions apply:
  • Workers may only be hired out to employers who are not considered to be related to the hirer.
  • No agency workers may be hired out to replace striking workers.
  • No assignment may be made if the hirer has made a significant number of its own employees redundant in the previous twelve months.
  • Posting will be prohibited in respect of jobs where the hirer's risk assessment shows that the workers in those jobs will be exposed to hazards and risks for which measures must be taken to reduce or limit exposure over time.
  • Other possible restrictions may be set out in the relevant collective agreement.​
It is also important to note that for employers with eleven or more employees, the proportion of temporary workers must not exceed 25 percent of the total number of employees, unless the collective agreement provides otherwise or in the case of employees who have an open-ended employment contract with the intermediary. This limit can therefore be a practical obstacle for employers from other EU countries.

It should also be noted that, although there is no court practice in this regard, there is an increased risk that the Slovenian tax authority will define an employee sent to work for a foreign employer as a permanent establishment (in the sense of a dependent agent) if he or she carries out relevant activities. Previous statements by the tax authority indicate that for dependent agents it is not important on what basis they work, but rather that they negotiate and/or conclude binding contracts for a company.

On the other hand, for employers from third countries, the Act on Prevention of Undeclared Work and Employment (ZPDZC-1) states that they must register at least one branch in Slovenia in order to perform work in Slovenia (except for short-term work in minor activities, for a maximum of 90 days per year) – therwise the performance of work by such an employer would be considered illegal work. This makes it impossible to provide work to third-country nationals.

Special features of the activity within the framework of the EoR concept or temporary employment.

A special licence and entry in a state register are required (in addition to other conditions for carrying out such activities) in order for a creditor to carry out its activities. Failure to comply with the conditions for carrying out such activities, which ultimately lead to the granting of such a licence and entry in the register, or failure to obtain such a licence and entry in the register, may result in fines for the lender, the borrower and the responsible persons.

In addition to fines, recent court practice has established the fiction of an employment relationship with the lender as the employer, which requires the employee to file a complaint. In addition to the conclusion of an employment contract, the employee may also claim any additional payments to which he would be entitled if he had worked for the hirer from the outset.

However, the mere hiring out of workers does not require a licence or permission, although this may be required for certain activities. As a general rule, employment contracts between the worker and the hirer must be concluded for an indefinite period, unless there are legal grounds for concluding a contract for a fixed period. However, there is no provision for a time limit on the use of temporary agency work.

When a worker is hired out, the hirer and the worker must comply with the statutory provisions, the provisions of the collective agreement binding on the employer and the provisions of the employer's internal documents. ZDR-1 explicitly states that this includes the employee's right to use the benefits that the employer makes available to its other (regular) employees. Specifically, this means that internal files and rights that the employer uses or makes available to its employees abroad also apply to the employee in Slovenia. In addition, recent court practice has established that in cases of unauthorised hiring out of employees, the employee may also claim any additional payments to which they would be entitled if they had worked for the hirer as a regular employee from the outset (e.g. additional payment of monthly salary if, according to the employer's internal records, employees would receive a higher monthly salary in comparable jobs abroad).

What are the special tax features of the EoR concept in your country?

In Slovenia, there are no special tax regulations for employees who are hired out as temporary workers. They are treated as normal employees for both corporation tax and income tax purposes.

Despite the lack of court practice, there are higher risks that such an employee would establish a permanent establishment, unless he or she would only carry out preparatory or supporting activities. Such risks arise from statements of the Slovenian tax authority regarding the permanent establishment of a non-resident from July 2021. The tax authority emphasizes less the fact whether a dependent agent works on behalf of a non-resident, but rather whether such dependent agent negotiates or concludes contracts binding for the hirer. The tax authority emphasizes that it is not even important whether the name of such borrower is mentioned in the contract or not, but whether it effectively creates obligations and rights for the borrower.

In face of the lack of special regulations in Slovenian national legislation and in the double taxation agreement with Germany, there are higher risks that such an employee could establish a permanent establishment in Slovenia (provided, of course, that he fulfils the other conditions for establishing a permanent establishment)In Slovenia, there are no special tax regulations for employees who are hired out as temporary workers. They are treated as normal employees for both corporation tax and income tax purposes.

Despite the lack of court practice, there are higher risks that such an employee would establish a permanent establishment, unless he or she would only carry out preparatory or supporting activities. Such risks arise from statements of the Slovenian tax authority regarding the permanent establishment of a non-resident from July 2021. The tax authority emphasizes less the fact whether a dependent agent works on behalf of a non-resident, but rather whether such dependent agent negotiates or concludes contracts binding for the hirer. The tax authority emphasizes that it is not even important whether the name of such borrower is mentioned in the contract or not, but whether it effectively creates obligations and rights for the borrower.

In face of the lack of special regulations in Slovenian national legislation and in the double taxation agreement with Germany, there are higher risks that such an employee could establish a permanent establishment in Slovenia (provided, of course, that he fulfils the other conditions for establishing a permanent establishment).

How do you anticipate the concept of EoR evolving in your country from your perspective?

From our perspective, the concept of EoR will not develop much in Slovenia, as employee placement already has a long tradition and, moreover, the Supreme Court has clearly stated in recent practice that comparable activities can only be carried out within the framework of employee placement (in compliance with the regulations of the ZUTD).

It should also be taken into account that even in the case of employee placement, which is similar to the EoR concept, the usual legal regulations and restrictions on the employment of foreigners apply. As a result, the placement of workers only makes a limited contribution to solving the shortage of skilled workers. There are little indications that the EoR concept would be significantly more successful in this respect.​

Contact

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Radu-Dragos Dobrescu

Partner, Office head

+ 385 1 4920 468

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Contact Person Picture

Alina Dobrescu

Commercial Manager Adria

+385 1 4920 481

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