ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - Croatian Labour and Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic said Tuesday that unions had the right to organise a referendum on amendments to the Labour Act, but had no reason to do so, since the loss of some of
workers' rights had been compensated with accompanying laws.
ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - Croatian Labour and Welfare Minister
Davorko Vidovic said Tuesday that unions had the right to organise a
referendum on amendments to the Labour Act, but had no reason to do
so, since the loss of some of workers' rights had been compensated
with accompanying laws. #L#
The leaders of union federations should decide on May 29 whether to
organise a union referendum regarding changes to the Labour Act.
Whether a general strike will be organised depends on the results of
the referendum. For now four union federations have advocated
holding the referendum.
Union members should decide at the referendum whether to accept
what social partners had agreed in amendments to the Act.
"Organising referendums is in the discretion of unions and this is
not disputable. But they have no reason for this because we have
managed to compensate for the reduction of some rights by a set of
laws," Vidovic told reporters.
He said that notwithstanding the referendum, amendments to the
Labour Act should soon be sent into parliament for the second
reading. The new law should be adopted by July 1.
Changes to the Labour Act are part of adjustment of the Croatian
legislation to European standards, without which Croatia cannot
access the EU, Vidovic said.
Increased compensation for the unemployed will start being
implemented simultaneously with the law taking effect on July 1.
The labour ministry will suggest to the government that the reduced
severance pay and notices be applied as of January 1, 2004, Vidovic
said.
He added that the reduction of severance pay would affect annually
between 1,800 and 2,600 workers with more than 25 years of service,
while compensation for employment would increase and encompass
100,000 more people.
Salaries for workers of bankrupt companies will be paid from a fund
for workers' claims. Amendments to the Penal Code would secure a
regular payment of salaries.
"We did a good job, so unions and employers will get a new legal
environment in the economic and social sense," Vidovic said.
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