Therefore, the value of work is not measured only by what is produced, but also by the sense of security and the possibility of a dignified life that it provides, and the assurance that one’s efforts are recognised and respected. It is reflected in whether a person can live peacefully from their work, with the feeling that their place in society is secure, and whether they go to work in the morning with confidence and return home with the sense that their efforts have meaning. Our attitude toward work says a great deal about what kind of society we are.
The rights we associate with work today did not emerge on their own. They were forged over decades of courage, solidarity and perseverance. We must therefore understand them as a lasting commitment – to preserve, develop and adapt them to the time in which we live.
Our time brings rapid and profound changes. Professions, ways of working and expectations are transforming, along with the feelings of security and uncertainty that people experience in their daily lives. Yet within these changes lies an opportunity to create an environment where the work of the future will be fairer and more inclusive. Progress can only be sustainable if people actually feel it.
In such circumstances, it is especially important that we, as a community, know how to maintain trust, respect diverse perspectives, and at the same time seek common paths forward. Stability and cooperation are not self-evident; they are created through decisions and actions.
Slovenia has the knowledge, capabilities and people who prove every day through their work that we can succeed. Their dedication is the foundation of stability, development and confidence in the future.
In Cankar’s prophetic words, “The nation will write its own judgment”, lies the responsibility we bear as a community – to build the future together, consciously, with respect for work and for people. Day after day. Not with words, but with deeds.
On the occasion of International Labour Day, I extend my sincere congratulations to you all.
Robert Golob
Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia
