Background information

Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and a massive exodus of population, the temporary protection for persons displaced from Ukraine was activated by adopting the government decision on 9 March 2022 ( Decision establishing temporary protection for persons displaced from Ukraine ). The further Decree on the methods for ensuring the rights of persons enjoying temporary protection (24 March 2022) determined the rights of persons with temporary protection and applicants for temporary protection.

Refugees from Ukraine were endowed with the right to accommodation and other entitlements, such as income support, access to the labour market and admission to education from pre-school to university level. The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants made the information on measures available by printed and online brochures, a website and a free call number.

The measure is limited to one year with two further possible extensions of six months.

Content of measure

From the outset of the war in Ukraine, the refugees who had not found refuge with relatives or acquaintances, have been housed in state and private accommodation centres where food and other necessities are provided. More than a hundred hotels, hostels and apartment providers replied to the public call for private accommodations that resulted in 600 beds to Ukraine refugees.

On 24 March 2022, the Decree provided financial support for persons under temporary protection and living in private apartments. On the ground of the tenancy contract, the refugee may apply for private accommodation support. An adult obtains the maximum monetary support of €421 a month from which the income the person may continue to receive is deducted. The total support is adjusted to the size of the family. It amounts to:

• 130% for a family of two,
• 160% for a three-member family,
• 190% for four family members and so on.

For instance, an adult with two children may receive €675 for private accommodation support. Support for accommodation is paid on top of the minimum income support reported in Income support and other humanitarian measures for Ukrainian refugees .

The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants has to assist refugees in administrative procedures, providing support by its staff or subcontracted service providers.

Use of measure

As of 6 May 2022, about 500 Ukraine refugees are in accommodation centres. The rest of the refugees are staying with relatives, friends or in rented private apartments. So far, about 6,000 Ukrainian citizens have applied for temporary protection, and 2,396 procedures have resulted in recognised status. The police reported the registration of 5,728 Ukraine citizens. According to The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants, this number is lower than the number of applications because some have already returned to Ukraine or moved to other European countries.

According to the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants (UOIM), 63% of Ukrainians under temporary protection (or 5,145 individuals) have received housing support until now (data from February 2023). The percentage is even higher as each support may cover more family members. Only 7% of Ukrainian refugees found accommodation in facilities provided by the state (in centres for asylum seekers, student houses, apartments managed by the Public Housing Fund or the Ministry of Defence, and state-funded accommodations in the hospitality sector)

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The measure was adopted without prior consultation with social partners.

Views and reactions

In press releases, social partners expressed their solidarity with Ukrainian refugees. On the other hand, the media raised the question of unequal treatment of refugees on the ground of their origin. They asked why the ‘decent treatment’ of Ukraine refugees is not applied to all. In their letter, asylum seekers stressed double standards when Ukraine citizens and when other refugees are concerned. The state provided new beds and better food for Ukraine refugees in accommodation centres. They, moreover, are allowed to stay in private accommodations, have immediate access to work and receive income support, privileges asylum seekers can only dream of. Asylum seekers thus demanded equal treatment, the right to work and access to the social system, the right to free movement, access to decent health care, decent housing in asylum centres and legal assistance to which they have otherwise the lawful right.

Sources

• 09 March 2022: Decision establishing temporary protection for persons displaced from Ukraine (Sklep o uvedbi začasne zaščite za razseljene osebe iz Ukrajine (pisrs.si)
• 23 March 2022: Offers from all over Slovenia of accommodation for 600 refugees (www.delo.si)
• 25 March 2022: Decree on the methods for ensuring rights of persons enjoying temporary protection (Uredba o načinu zagotavljanja pravic osebam z začasno zaščito (pisrs.si)
• 08 April 2022: Asylum seekers point to double standard (www.dnevnik.si)
• 07 May 2022: Many refugees do not know what rights they have (www.delo.si)
• 02 November 2022: Ministry of the Interior, Press Releas (www.gov.si)