Ljubljana - The National Assembly rejected on Friday opposition-sponsored changes to the pension and disability insurance act that would create a legal basis for determining and confirming occupational diseases. The coalition argued the matter should be addressed with changes to health legislation.

The opposition Social Democrats (SD), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and Left argued that Slovenia had no regulation for verification of occupational disease, except for diseases caused by asbestos.

In other European countries, where such regulation is in place, about a third of all disability pensions stem from occupational disease, Dejan Židan from the SD said.

Labour Ministry State Secretary Mateja Ribič agreed that the matter should be regulated but not in the way the opposition proposes.

The issue should be tackled with changes to the health insurance act not the pension insurance act, she stressed.

She added that the government could not support the motion also because it had not been coordinated with social partners.

The same arguments were given by the coalition Democrats (SDS) and the junior coalition New Slovenia (NSi).

The vote was 44 against and 42 in favour.