Lack of cooperation among key role-players is a consequence of absence of a national plan for development of life-long guidance. Without the national framework, roles and competences of role-players are not defined, which causes rivalry instead of cooperation. Slovenian unions do not recognize their role in ensuring life-long guidance and are still directed mostly towards wage policies and other subjects directly connected to employment. Their role in counselling should be providing counselling for workers who are in danger of losing their employment and at the systemic level, advocating the right of counselling for all employees.

The greatest drawback in Slovenia, besides the lack of systemic framework (national plan), is the absence of standards. The lack of quality standards is in the context of increased demand for counselling services, outsourcing, and pressures for efficiency and successfulness of services, very problematic and threatens the general quality of services. In the context of privatisation it would thus be urgent to set the quality standards that will ensure the same level of services for all clients. The quality standards should regulate the service itself and should expose the meaning of client - counsellor relationship.

Reasons:

• Absence of national programme and independent, professional institution;
• Rivalry among the role-players.

Consequences:

• Unequal quality of services;
• Possibility of price-dumping in providers;
• Inefficient use of potential – mainly counselling for vulnerable employees categories.

Possible solutions:

• Development of a national plan;
• Establishment of and independent institution, which among other tasks should develop quality standards.