Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Slovakia

Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) (Ratification: 1993)
Medical Care and Sickness Benefits Convention, 1969 (No. 130) (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in relation to: (i) persons protected, regarding Articles 15 (Sickness benefit), 48 (Maternity benefit), 55 (Invalidity benefit), 61 (Survivors’ benefit) of Convention No. 102; (ii) family benefits, regarding Article 44 of Convention No. 102; (iii) adjustment of invalidity and survivors’ benefits, regarding Article 65(10) of Convention No. 102; (iv) financing of benefits, regarding Article 71 of Convention No. 102; and (v) equal treatment, regarding Articles 10 and 32 of Convention No. 130.

Part IX (Invalidity benefit), Articles 56, 57 and Part X (Survivors’ benefit), Articles 62 and 65(6) of Convention No. 102. Replacement rate of benefits. The Committee takes note of the information that average invalidity pension corresponds to €574.80, increased by €51.76 of family allowances, which would reach 46.3 per cent of the net average salary of €1,303.01, in 2022. In relation to survivors’ benefits, the Government indicates that the same calculations and percentages are applied to a widow with two children, being 60 per cent of the invalidity pension for the widow and 40 per cent for the two children. The Government indicates that the standard beneficiary is a man with a wife and two children, with a 30-year period of contributions to social security. The Committee recalls that invalidity benefits shall be paid at a replacement rate of 40 per cent of the reference wage, according to the options provided by Article 65(6) and the Schedule appended to Part XI of the Convention, to a person protected who has completed, prior to the contingency, a qualifying period of 15 years of contributions, as prescribed by Article 57(a) of the Convention. In this context, the Committee requests the Government to clearly indicate, in relation to the reference salary, which of the options in Article 65(6) is the most appropriate to reflect the average salary in Slovakia indicated in its report. In relation to the option chosen, the Committee also requests the Government to indicate, by way of calculation, how much is paid to the respective standard beneficiary who has completed a qualifying period of 15 years, demonstrating how invalidity benefits meet the minimum replacement rate of 40 per cent established by the Convention. Finally, the Committee requests the Government to provide statistical information on the number of workers and survivors who received invalidity benefits during the period under review and the minimum and maximum amounts paid in this regard.

Article 19 of Convention No. 130.Persons protected as regards sickness insurance. The Committee notes the Government's statistical information on the number of persons protected in relation to sickness insurance, indicating that coverage is around 68.3 per cent of the economically active population. The Committee notes the information that the protected persons correspond to all insured employees, including contractors and voluntarily insured workers. The Committee recalls that benefits shall be secured by way of compulsory insurance to at least the persons protected in accordance with Article 18 of the Convention. The Committee also wishes to point out that according to subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Article 19 of the Convention, persons protected should comprise either (a) all employees, including apprentices; or (b) at least 75 per cent of all of the economically active population. In view of this, the Committee requests the Government to indicate which subparagraph of Article 19 best represents sickness insurance coverage in the country. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the total number of persons employed in the country subject to compulsory insurance against sickness and to demonstrate how the percentage of persons protected attains the minimum coverage established by Article 19 of the Convention.