News roundup - Monday, 24 July, until 3pm

Govt fares better, but SDS still in the lead in POP TV poll

LJUBLJANA - The voter approval rating for the Robert Golob government improved by one percentage point in the latest poll commissioned by the private broadcaster POP TV. However, the opposition Democrats (SDS) are still half a point ahead of the largest ruling coalition party, the Freedom Movement. Both saw their ratings improve in the past month. The SDS gained 1.4 points to 23.2% and the party of PM Robert Golob added 1.7 points to 22.7%. Smaller parties slipped back, most so the coalition Left.

Inspectorate discovers exploitation of Ukrainian workers at Alumero

SLOVENSKA BISTRICA - The Labour Inspectorate has uncovered a new case of exploitation of foreign workers, this time at the Slovenska Bistrica location of Alumero. The aluminium products maker was involved in hiring and exploiting Ukrainian workers through unlicensed intermediaries. Fines amounting to around EUR 40,000 were issued. The inspectorate said that Alumero, part of the Austrian Alumero Group, okayed the hiring of 28 Ukrainian workers through the firms Askar Slo and Prana, which did not have a temping agency licence. The workers were posted to Alumero without the necessary permits and registry entries.

Rupnik's expulsion from Jesuit order final

ROME, Italy - The expulsion of Slovenian priest and artist Marko Rupnik from the Jesuit order is final. Rupnik, who is accused of having mentally and sexually abused nuns, will remain a priest for now, according to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. The decision to expel Rupnik was confirmed on 9 June, but the disgraced priest had 30 days to appeal. He remains a priest, although the Jesuits are allegedly considering of dismissing him from the priesthood.

Slovenian composer nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards

LOS ANGELES, US - Slovenia's Anže Rozman is among the composers nominated for the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards as part of his work on the theme music for the Prehistoric Planet documentary series, along with Kara Talve and Hans Zimmer. They are nominated in the category Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series or Special. Prehistoric Planet, a ten-part British-US nature documentary streaming television series about dinosaurs, is narrated by natural historian David Attenborough. Emmys will be presented in September.

Wages up in May

LJUBLJANA - Average earnings paid out in Slovenia for May totalled EUR 2,208 gross or EUR 1,435 net, both up 1.2% in nominal terms and 0.1% higher in real terms compared to April pay, according to the Statistics Office. Year-on-year, net salaries rose by 10.6% in nominal terms and 2% in real terms. Average take-home pay in the private sector amounted to EUR 1,343 and to EUR 1,641 in the public sector.

New pollutants detected in Ljubljana's water system

LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana's utility company Voka Snaga has detected modern-day water pollutants, benzotriazoles, in drinking water. Although the concentration of the hazardous substances is low for now, further increases could call for more stringent measures. Currently the concentration ranges up to 0.2 microgrammes per litre and they have been detected in all urban water sources. The World Health Organization has not yet established threshold values for benzotriazoles in drinking water, with Denmark being the only county to set the limit at 20 microgrammes per litre for adults.