Basic information for foreign companies

The break time during work counts as working time and is paid.

If a student works 8 hours in a day, they are entitled to a 30-minute break.
The lunch break counts as working time and must be paid.
A student working part-time (less than 8 hours but more than 4 hours) is entitled to a break proportional to the time spent at work (calculated: 7 h = 26.15 min, 6 h = 22.30 min, 5 h = 18.45 min, 4 h = 15 min).
The break can be taken after one hour of work and no later than one hour before the end of the workday.
If a student works less than 4 hours a day, they are not entitled to a lunch break.

The legislation does not provide for the reimbursement of meal costs, transportation to work, mileage, or per diems for student work.

If the employer wishes to reimburse a student for transportation costs, they can do so by converting the transportation cost into hours and the hourly rate.
The employer is not obligated to reimburse transportation costs, but the student can claim the transportation expense when reducing the tax base during the submission of the income tax return.
The legislation does not provide for meal reimbursement, but the lunch break must be paid.

A pre-employment medical examination for students working under student referrals is mandatory:

when the safety and health at work statement specifies particular health requirements for a specific job,
if the risk assessment indicates risks of accidents, occupational diseases, and work-related illnesses,
when the examination is required by special regulations.

Since the scope of the examination and tests is the same as those provided to students by the preventive healthcare program, for jobs where there are no specific health risks and where there are no special risks, a medical certificate obtained through a preventive healthcare examination is sufficient, provided the student has been examined within the last five years.

Students receive the medical certificate from the institution where the examination was conducted, not from their general practitioner, as it may not always be recorded in their medical file.

However, if the risk assessment for a specific job indicates exposure to special work risks, the employer must ensure a full medical examination for the student by an authorized physician, a specialist in occupational medicine, and within the timeframes specified in the safety statement for the specific job.

The Employment Relationships Act stipulates that a worker who is under 18 years of age:

is not allowed to work at night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day,
in cases of work in the fields of culture, arts, sports, and advertising, the restriction applies between midnight and 4 a.m. the next day,
for students who are older than 18, these restrictions do not apply.

Yes, even for student work, it is required to keep a record of working hours.

In the past, it was already necessary to record the hours worked by students, as they form the basis for calculating and paying for the work.
Now, it is also required to record the exact time of arrival and departure, as well as the use of lunch breaks.
The method of keeping the records is not prescribed – it can be electronic, manual, or hybrid.
The data can be entered by the employer or the student (an Excel file can be created in the cloud for shared access).
The student can fill in this file daily and in real time.
The employer must provide the student with written information about the data from the records for the previous month. The student can request this record from the employer on a weekly basis.
If the student has constant direct electronic access to the records, the weekly or monthly notification requirement is already fulfilled.

If a student is under 18, the following applies:

They cannot sell tobacco products.
If they work at least 4.5 hours per day, they are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break.
They cannot work overtime and may work a maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Night work is not allowed for minors. This means they have the right to rest between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day and cannot work during this time.
They are entitled to 12 hours of rest between two working days and 48 hours of weekly rest.
They are not allowed to perform any tasks that carry increased risks of accidents or hazardous work (working at heights, lifting heavy objects, working in extreme cold or heat, or in noisy or vibrating environments, exposure to radiation).

For internships and internship payments, the employer makes an agreement with the school and the student.
In some cases, students may be entitled to a reward (depending on the company, collective agreement, etc.) and reimbursement of expenses (transportation, meals). Payment and all related documentation are managed by the employer, not the student service.
The employer is also responsible for arranging insurance for workplace injuries and occupational diseases (M12 form), paying contributions, and submitting REK forms.
All information regarding internships can be obtained from the school or university.

Yes, training for student work must be paid.

You can read everything about income tax for students here.. The text about income tax is in Slovenian because it applies to Slovenian students.

No, work abroad with a referral is not possible. A student referral can only be used as a basis for work in Slovenia.

Employers who rely on high school and university students for assistance in their operations must ensure their safety and health at work (OHS – Occupational Health and Safety).

In accordance with the risk assessment for a particular job position, students must be provided with all necessary protective equipment (work clothing, gloves, ear protection, etc.) for the safe performance of tasks.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training consists of two parts:

Theoretical part, which can be conducted outside the workplace but must be carried out by an authorized person (a safety engineer in the company or a certified professional or contractor).
Practical part of the training must be tailored to the specifics of the job and is conducted exclusively at the workplace. The practical training is organized by the safety engineer, a certified professional within the company/organization, or a contractor.

The responsibility for food hygiene training (HACCP) lies with the food business operator, who must have a training plan for their employees. The decision on whether the training is conducted by the food business operator or an appointed responsible person for internal control, or if it is outsourced to an external expert organization, is up to the employer.

The Employment Relationships Act states that a worker (high school or university student) who intentionally or through gross negligence causes damage to the employer while at work or in connection with work is obligated to compensate for the damage.

A student who has an open sole proprietorship (S.P.) loses the right to work through the student service.

The status and rights arising from it are regulated by the Higher Education Act (ZVis).

Students are entitled to certain rights and benefits based on their student status, such as the right to healthcare, subsidized transportation, subsidized meals, subsidized accommodation, the opportunity to work through a student referral, and eligibility for scholarships. However, these benefits apply only if the student is not employed, does not engage in independent registered activities, is not registered as unemployed, and is not a managing person of a company or a director of a private institute.

Yes. This is done through a form (M12 form), and the registration is completed by the student service.

In the event of an accident or injury at work, it must be immediately reported to the direct supervisor or employer, and all appropriate internal procedures must be followed. The employer is also responsible for reporting the accident through the SPOT portal.

The employer also pays a Contribution for Workplace Injury and Occupational Disease (0.53 %) for the student.
This contribution does not entitle the student to compensation, as it is a payment for the additional risk associated with the work.
However, students are entitled to healthcare services related to workplace injuries and occupational diseases through this contribution.
The student service handles all administration and contributions.

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