ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - The Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH) has suggested that new amendments to the law on the rights and obligations of state officials should equate notice periods for workers and state
officials, that coefficients for officials' salaries should be reduced by 30 percent, and that a commission should be set up to investigate the origin of officials' assets.
ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - The Association of Workers' Trade Unions of
Croatia (URSH) has suggested that new amendments to the law on the
rights and obligations of state officials should equate notice periods
for workers and state officials, that coefficients for officials'
salaries should be reduced by 30 percent, and that a commission should
be set up to investigate the origin of officials' assets.#L#
The bill of amendments is largely cosmetic in character so the URSH
will send its suggestions to the government in writing with a view to
bringing officials closer to the people and their constituents, URSH
president Boris Kunst said on Tuesday.
"Given that officials... have given themselves numerous benefits and
two years ago increased their salaries by 30 percent by increasing
coefficients, we will... send to the government suggestions which, if
accepted, will win it the public's sympathy and buy it the ticket for
one more term of office," Kunst told reporters.
The URSH suggests that Article 113 of the Labour Act, which regulates
the duration of the notice period, be also applied to state officials
so that in the future, instead of receiving a salary for one year
after leaving office, they would have a notice period of, for example,
three months for 40 years of service.
The association also suggests that coefficients for officials'
salaries be returned to the level before 2002, when they were
increased by 30 percent, while their base salary should amount to the
average national salary.
"If for many workers salaries are frozen for years, I see no reason
why those of officials should go up," Kunst said, stressing that
members of parliament receive a monthly salary of 15,000 kuna while
customs workers receive 3,300 kuna.
Kunst also urged the establishment of a parliamentary commission which
would investigate the origin of assets with a view to finding out how
numerous officials and tycoons became rich.
"That would preclude the mockery state officials are making of their
declarations of assets in which they declare ludicrous valuables,"
said Kunst.
The government should show its social sensitivity at a time when
Croatia is in a very difficult position because it is unable to
service its debts, which will force it to meet International Monetary
Fund demands, including cuts to salaries and social benefits.
(Hina) ha sb