BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 4873

HR-BULLETIN-Politika BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 4873 HINA Zagreb 23 January 2003GOVERNMENT SENDS CHANGES TO LABOUR ACT TO PARLIAMENT FOR DEBATEZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday sent to parliament draft amendments to the Labour Act which envisage shorter dismissal notification periods, lower severance pays and the same rights for permanent and temporary employees. The government called on social partners to talk and find mutually acceptable solutions to outstanding issues. Prime Minister Ivica Racan called on unions and employers to try and reach, in the next several weeks, an agreement on the moved changes and solutions which would secure better protection of workers, such as the workers' claims system, better legal protection of their rights, etc. The government's amendments did not receive full support from social partners. Three to four provisions remain contentious. The unions are against shorter dismissal notification periods and lower severance p