ZAGREB, Jan 23(Hina) - The Economic and Social Council (GSV) held its first session on Friday after the parliamentary election in November last year with representatives of trade unions and employers supporting a government proposal
to restore three-year maternity leave for mothers with three or more children. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.
ZAGREB, Jan 23(Hina) - The Economic and Social Council (GSV) held its
first session on Friday after the parliamentary election in November
last year with representatives of trade unions and employers
supporting a government proposal to restore three-year maternity leave
for mothers with three or more children. The meeting was attended by
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.#L#
The GSV's support will make it easier for the government to win
backing for this proposal in parliament, the Prime Minister and
vice-chairwoman of the GSV, Jadranka Kosor, told reporters after the
session. She described the meeting as very constructive.
Kresimir Sever, GSV chairman who represents the trade unions, and
Ivica Mudrinic, chairman of the Executive Board of the Croatian
Employers' Association, were also satisfied with the meeting.
The social partners agreed to initiate a broad discussion on the
position of women as part of the government's policy aimed at
reversing a negative population trend. The discussion would also
examine the position of women on the labour market, because women
account for 58 per cent of the unemployed.
The GSV also discussed a proposal to reduce Value Added Tax and the
amended Law on Commerce that bans work on Sundays and national
holidays.
The government's proposal for the reduction of VAT won tentative
support, with trade unions saying that the reduction might be damaging
to employees receiving pay from the national budget.
The GSV discussed further amendments to the Law on Commerce to
regulate in detail the ban on work on Sundays. None of the
participants asked for the ban to be lifted.
(Hina) vm sb