As part of its educational activities, the Asociacija Association invites you to a discussion on the proposed pension reform with Igor Feketija, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
The discussion will take place on 6 November 2025 at 3pm at the DobraVaga Gallery (Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje 5, Ljubljana) and will also be broadcast live on Radio Študent. Its purpose is to give members of Asociacija, workers in the independent cultural sector, other NGOs and precarious workers an opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of how the reform will affect them and all citizens, so they can make confident decisions regarding its implementation.
As a thematic NGO network and an organisation advocating for independent culture, Asociacija has taken a position on the pension reform and contributed proposals during the legislative process. However, its concerns about the fairness of the reform and the proposals that would have ensured this fairness were not taken into account by the decision-makers. Therefore, Asociacija has called on its members to vote in favour of holding a referendum on the pension reform, as the referendum represents an opportunity for an informed and direct public decision on the matter.
Why are information and decision-making about the reform important?
The cultural and artistic sector is highly precarious. The reform will affect people of all ages, yet, according to Asociacija, the issue of precarious work is inadequately addressed or continues to be overlooked by the reform’s proponents. Despite this, the proponents, who at times claim that “all work counts,” continue to insist in their communications and public appearances that the reform is the best and only possible solution, even suggesting that no better option will ever come.
Together with the State Secretary, we will explore all these issues and make the discussion on dignified ageing relevant beyond the independent cultural sector.
The discussion will touch on topics such as:
– what we mean when we talk about demographic challenges;
– the foundations of the reform and how they developed into the final proposal;
– how the measures, such as the extension of the reference period, the increase of the retirement age, the change in the pension adjustment formula, higher accrual rates for longer contribution periods, and two types of supplements, will affect ageing for workers in general and for those in the independent cultural sector in particular;
– the issue of pensions for those who do not reach 40 years of pensionable service;
– the specific challenges faced by precarious cultural workers;
– the broader connection between decent work, housing issues, and long-term care.
More about the format of the educational event and opportunities for participation
The discussion, lasting up to two hours, will consist of a structured first part and an interactive second part, which will provide space for your questions. Your presence and active participation will be key to addressing the challenges we face together. Please arrive early to ensure there is enough space and that we can start on time.
If you plan to listen to the discussion on the radio, you can send your questions in advance to polona.torkar@asociacija.si. Asociacija’s Professional Associate will do her best to present them to the State Secretary during the conversation, though we ask for your understanding if there is not enough time to include all of them.
About the guest speaker
State Secretary Igor Feketija was born in 1978 in Celje, where he completed primary and secondary school. A graduate in economics, he taught macroeconomics at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, for 18 years and ran his family’s translation company for 10 years. He regularly contributes commentary and analysis on macroeconomic developments to Slovenian media. He is one of the key authors of legislative proposals drafted by the political party Levica, including the proposed pension reform.
Free admission.
The event is organised in collaboration with DobraVaga / Kino Šiška and Zavod Radio Študent.
The educational activities of the Asociacija Association are co-funded by the City of Ljubljana and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
