E/C.12/SVN/CO/2
social benefits for workers in the informal economy, and limited access to justice (arts. 7
and 9).
The Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to ensure that all
migrant workers enjoy the protection of labour laws and can access justice to remedy
violations of their rights. The Committee further recommends that the State party
bring those employers violating migrants’ labour rights to justice, prosecute them and
impose commensurate sanctions, if convicted.
Social security
18.
The Committee is concerned that some social security benefits are calculated on the
basis of a minimum income in the State party that is far below the actual minimum cost of
living. The Committee is further concerned that measures taken to address the economic
crisis in the State party have resulted in reducing coverage and the amount of health care,
pension and unemployment benefits. Such measures also introduced stricter eligibility
conditions for social assistance benefit, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups
and individuals, including unemployed persons, persons with disability, and older persons
(arts. 2 and 9).
Recalling its general comment No. 19 (2008) on the right to social security, the
Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Revise the eligibility conditions and rates for social security benefits,
including social assistance, while taking into account the actual cost of living in the
State party, and paying particular attention to unemployed persons, persons with
disability, and older persons;
(b)
Ratify International Labour Organization Convention No. 118 (1962)
concerning Equality of Treatment (Social Security).
Domestic violence
19.
The Committee is concerned about the high prevalence of domestic violence in the
State party, despite the implementation of the National Programme of Family Violence
Prevention (2009–2014) and the adoption of some other measures. The Committee also
expresses its concern at the limited effectiveness of protection mechanisms for victims of
domestic violence, including the lack of enforcement of restraining orders issued against
alleged perpetrators, and at the lenient sanctions imposed by courts against such
perpetrators (art. 10).
The Committee urges the State party to take all effective measures, including by
introducing the necessary amendments to the Family Violence Prevention Act, to
prevent incidents of domestic violence. The State party should ensure that protection
mechanisms available to victims of violence are effectively implemented, including
enforcement of restraining orders, adequate access to shelters for immediate physical
protection, provision of legal aid and medical services, and remedies and
compensation. The Committee also urges the State party to step up its public
awareness measures, and to provide training to law enforcement officials and judges
on the serious and criminal nature of domestic violence, also with a view to imposing
commensurate sanctions against perpetrators.
Standard of living
20.
The Committee is concerned about the increasing risk of poverty in the State party,
faced by especially disadvantaged and marginalized groups such as older persons, including
pensioners, women, persons with disabilities, Roma, single-parent families and families
6