According to a report from the Slovenia Times, more than 14,000 Slovenians regularly work in Austria, with around half commuting daily across the border.

The number of Slovenians working in Austria is believed to have risen by 2,500 during the past 12 months.

According to the report, the Maribor branch of the Slovenian employment service has recorded 14,147 Slovenians registered as working in Austria, with 11,000 of them in Styria, Carinthia and Burgenland, each of which border onto the former Yugoslav republic.

According to the head of the service Mateja Muršak, the main motive for people crossing the border to seek work is a lack of jobs at home and higher earnings in Austria.

"In a case of disagreement, the Austrian Chamber of Labour is responsible for disputes, but inquiries over disputes with the employers are few," reports the Slovenia Times.