What You (as a Foreign Worker in Slovenia) Need to Know About Holiday Allowance (“Regres”)

If you work in Slovenia, it is important to know your rights not only to paid holidays, but also to a holiday allowance, called regres in Slovenian, which in most cases is paid no later than July 1 of each year. The final deadline for payment of regres for 2025 is November 1, 2025, which means that every employee who is entitled to annual leave must have the full amount in their bank account by that date. Many employees, especially those from overseas, are not fully aware that this is a legally protected entitlement. Here is a clear guide to who gets paid, how much, when, and what to do if your employer fails to pay.

What is Regres (Holiday Allowance)?

• Regres is an additional payment that employers in Slovenia are legally required to make to employees who have the right to annual leave.
• It is meant to help cover vacation costs and is directly tied to the right to take annual leave.
• The obligation is regulated under Article 131 of the Employment Relationships Act (ZDR-1).
• In short, if you are entitled to paid annual leave, you are also entitled to a holiday allowance.

Who Is Eligible?

• All employees who are entitled to annual leave are automatically entitled to regres, regardless of whether they use all of their leave in that year.
• Part-time workers are entitled to a proportional (pro rata) holiday allowance based on their working time.
• Special cases such as parental leave, pension, or disability insurance may entitle part-time workers to the full allowance.
• Employees who start or end employment mid-year are typically entitled to a proportional share of regres based on how many months they worked.

How Much Must Regres Be?

• The law sets a minimum holiday allowance, but collective agreements or individual contracts may require a higher amount.
• For 2025, the statutory minimum regres is 1,277.72 EUR (gross) for a full-year entitlement.
• The payment is tax-free up to the national average gross salary.
• If the allowance exceeds that amount, the excess is taxed.

When Must Regres Be Paid?

• The general deadline is 1 July of the relevant year.
• In cases of liquidity difficulties, a collective agreement may permit delaying the payment.
• The latest possible date for payment is 1 November of that same calendar year.
• Because 1 November is a public holiday, the effective last day is usually 30 October, ensuring the funds reach the employee’s account.
• If the employer fails to pay by that date, they are violating labor law, and the employee may claim the unpaid amount.

What If Your Employer Does Not Pay Regres?

• Ask your employer informally or formally in writing for an explanation and payment date.
• Check your payslip; if regres has been calculated but not paid, it serves as evidence.
• Contact the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia, which enforces compliance.
• Take legal action at the competent labour court if payment is not made. A court judgment allows enforcement of the claim.
• The statute of limitations for claiming unpaid regres is five years.
• If your employer has not issued proper payslips, formally request them, as they can serve as supporting documentation.

Summary (Key Points)

About SIBIZ

SIBIZ Business Services Ltd., based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, provides accounting, tax, legal, and employment advisory to foreign entrepreneurs, professionals, and corporations. We assist clients with company formation, payroll, and compliance matters throughout Slovenia and the EU region. Our firm also supports digital nomads, remote professionals, and international investors seeking to establish or expand their business presence in Slovenia.