Hi everyone,
I’m 23 and I recently came to Slovenia. I’m working in a Chinese restaurant here, and I feel trapped and helpless.
When I first arrived, I was scared and alone. I didn’t know the language or the system, and I didn’t have anyone to help me. But the people and the landscapes here are beautiful, and that has given me some courage.
The restaurant I work at is very harsh. I work about 13 hours every day. I wake up very early and work continuously until late at night. Most of my tasks are the dirtiest and heaviest work—moving heavy things, cleaning, washing—and there is no real protection for my safety.
When I first came, I badly injured my hand. The wound was large, but I had to keep working. Sometimes I cried silently while working, just hoping the injury would heal. Now my hands are covered in scars.
The worst part is my boss keeps saying I’m not doing enough. No matter how much I work, it’s never enough for him.
And now he has taken my residence card. He is afraid that I will leave for another job, so he refuses to give it back. I feel completely trapped. I don’t know what normal working hours in Slovenian restaurants are, and I don’t know my rights.
Because of my schedule, I only have about two hours at night to use my phone. I can barely communicate or seek help.
I’m sharing this because I hope no one else has to experience this fear and helplessness. If anyone knows how labor laws work in Slovenia, or if you have advice for someone in my situation, please help me.
Thank you so much for reading.
https://i.redd.it/zi2jbxagaing1.jpeg
Posted by Aromatic-Wheel8048
13 Comments
I’m sending you a childhood photo to keep your innocence and sincerity. Thank you for your comments, suggestions and help. I will read and reply to each comment carefully after work. Thank you again. Wish you a happy life! Always be happy and pray for you every day
[https://delavskasvetovalnica.si/kontakt/](https://delavskasvetovalnica.si/kontakt/)
At last call the police and tell them everything. They should help you.
Thats defenetliy not normal to work 13hours every day.. I saw one teen chinese guy who was working here same as you like alot of hours and he quit job for searching for another one. Normal here is 8 hours of work. I would really like to help you but I dont know how to help in this situation. Hope u will find better solution. U really deserve better
I read through your post yesterday and I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through. Other people already gave some good ideas yesterday.
Contact at least one or possibly all of the following over email:
* Delavska svetovalnica (IMPORTANT): [https://delavskasvetovalnica.si/kontakt/](https://delavskasvetovalnica.si/kontakt/)
* Slovenska filantropija: [https://www.filantropija.org/en/contact-us/](https://www.filantropija.org/en/contact-us/)
* Društvo za nenasilno komunikacijo (if you are experiencing violence): [https://www.drustvo-dnk.si/en/contact.html](https://www.drustvo-dnk.si/en/contact.html)
* Društvo Ključ (depending on if you arrived here willingly): [https://drustvo-kljuc.si/sl/o-drustvu-kljuc/](https://drustvo-kljuc.si/sl/o-drustvu-kljuc/)
What’s illegal:
* Working hours + overtime exceeds max 56h/week.
* Your employer cannot confiscate your residence permit.
* Possibly other health and work violations (hand bruising, mobbing, heavy lifting)
What you need to do as soon as possible is to describe your situation to at least one of the contacts above. You don’t need to bother with writing a long email, you can just copypaste what you’ve written here in English or link them the Reddit thread.
I sincerely and urgently recommend at least contacting Delavska svetovalnica: they’re specialised in exactly this sort of thing with foreigners employed in inhumane conditions and they will absolutely assist you and help you figure out how to change your employer while keeping your residentship. They’ll also contact other organizations to help you relocate away from your boss and get you settled elsewhere, so you won’t have to fear of any reprisals from your boss.
Do not contact the police or government Inspectorate until you’ve consulted Delavska svetovalnica, at the very least. They will help you report this to government agencies once your situation is at least somewhat resolved, so the employer can’t take it out on you. Good luck!
where in Slovenia? There is litteraly 10 chinese restaurants, wed like to know
I can’t add anything more than others have already suggested, but when this whole thing is over, and you are safe, please post the name of the restuarant so I make sure to never visit it.
Like others are saying, you should contact the authorities or at least activist groups because Slovenia is not the type of a country where people would take this ligtly, fortunatley.
You should, however, immediatley disclose to the authorities if your boss is a member of a triad. I’ve never heard of a triad in Slovenia, but i guess it’s not impossible.
Another thing i would ask you, if you feel like answering it, is where is your familiy? How did you get here? Does you family know you are here? Is your boss related to you?
This country is very social security inclined so you will be able to stay here when you get rescued from your current employer.
What you are describing is human trafficking. Please seek help from the police immediately or if you want I can seek help for you from police on your behalf. Or I can give you contact of my friend who is a social worker and she can do more for you than I know how.
I wish you to be able to get out of this situation as soon as possible, no one should live in such hard and unsure conditions. Please keep us updated on your wellbeing
Owww no this is horrible : / It’s against the law to intimidate workers like that. Employer is not allowed to force you to work 13 hour work days. There are some very helpful places that you can turn to: [https://delavskasvetovalnica.si/kontakt/](https://delavskasvetovalnica.si/kontakt/)
“When I first came, I badly injured my hand. The wound was large, but I had to keep working.” This is messed up. Employer must allow you to have medical leave for medical checkup and recovery!
“Now my hands are covered in scars.”
Yeah that’s messed up…it’s what happens when you don’t give wounds proper healing :/ that’s all result of your employer’s ignorance.
“there is no real protection for my safety”
there are laws in place that protect workers at their work place but yeah authorities need to find out about it
I’m so sorry you’re experienced such exploitation in our country. I hope you find courage to contact all the relevant authorities( some other commenters pointed out some other places that you can contact for help ). This exploitation has to stop. I wish you all the best. You are still young and hopefully you can experience much more pleasant things in Slovenia when help reaches you. Sending you caring hugs and loves!
If I understand correctly you’re Chinese and also working in Chinese restaurant? If so, the best and most realistic option would be for you to look for other chinese restaurants in your area and ask if they need help? While also sending job applications in restaurants that are not Chinese.
I understand that putting your current boss on the spot wouldn’t be good idea as the workplace is tied to your residence.
It’s great your English is so good and you can post on Reddit ! Amazing !
Your healing is also very fast, you only came recently and already had a big wound, but it’s healed already and now you have scars.
Thanks for sharing this lovely fictional story!
Others gave good advice. Another option is to contact journalists, such shitty employer needs to be exposed.