ZAGREB, Jan 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS) has dismissed government-sponsored changes to the Labour Act as unacceptable and announced a possible general strike if the government fails to reach agreement with
the unions on changes to the labour legislation.
ZAGREB, Jan 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Association of Trade Unions
(HUS) has dismissed government-sponsored changes to the Labour Act
as unacceptable and announced a possible general strike if the
government fails to reach agreement with the unions on changes to
the labour legislation. #L#
HUS leader Zdenko Mucnjak said at a news conference on Wednesday
that the proposed changes to the Labour Act were the result of
pressures by the International Monetary Fund, scheduled for
parliamentary debate as early as January 7, before the signing of a
new stand-by arrangement with the IMF.
Mucnjak said that all five union federations would meet on Monday to
try and reach agreement on a single policy towards the government in
order to prevent the adoption of the announced changes, which they
claim radically reduce workers' rights.
The proposed changes are completely unacceptable, the most
problematic elements being the reduction of severance pays and
period of notice, the introduction of the same status for workers
with permanent and temporary work contracts and the redefinition of
the term small businessman, Mucnjak said.
The HUS warns that Slovenia is much closer to the European Union and
more competitive than Croatia, with a more socially oriented labour
act. The reason for Croatia's high unemployment rate is not a rigid
labour legislation but obsolete technology and lack of
investments, the union claims.
(hina) rml sb