Luka Mesec

Luka Mesec (born 1987) is the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. A founding member of the political party Levica (The Left), he coordinated the party until 2023, and has served as a member of the National Assembly since 2014. Born in Kranj and raised in Železniki, Mesec graduated in European Studies from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana. Before entering parliament at the age of 27, he was the coordinator of the Workers and Punks’ University and director of the Institute for Labour Studies. As Minister, Mesec leads social dialogue between the government, trade unions, and employers, promoting inclusive and balanced policy development. Under his leadership, the ministry has advanced major legislative reforms, including pension reform, minimum wage alignment, and labour market modernization—introducing measures such as the right to disconnect, modernised unemployment benefits, phased retirement, incentives for hiring older workers, and stronger protection for temporary employees.Throughout his political career, Mesec has consistently focused on strengthening the welfare state, improving workers’ rights and wages, ending precarity, addressing the housing crisis, and taking decisive action against climate change. His work reflects a long-term commitment to social justice and economic democracy in Slovenia.