ZAGREB, Sept 22 (Hina) - The co-ordinating body of port workers' unions stated on Monday that it would organise an hour-long blockade of ports on Thursday in protest at the government's refusal to withdraw from parliamentary procedure
a bill on the maritime domain and seaports.
ZAGREB, Sept 22 (Hina) - The co-ordinating body of port workers'
unions stated on Monday that it would organise an hour-long
blockade of ports on Thursday in protest at the government's
refusal to withdraw from parliamentary procedure a bill on the
maritime domain and seaports. #L#
Union representatives told reporters that the ports of Rijeka,
Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Ploce and Dubrovnik would be closed between
9 and 10 am. If the government ignores the warning, the ports will be
closed until the union demands are met, the unionists said.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications has
invited union leaders to a meeting on Wednesday, but this may be too
late as the parliament could pass the bill already on Wednesday,
said Zdenko Mucnjak, leader of the Croatian Association of Trade
Unions.
The unionists claim that the bill strips port companies and their
employees of concessions.
The proposed bill does not envisage indemnification to investors
for the rights acquired on a maritime domain in the form of free
concessions for the period of time required to secure return on
investment. Also left out from the bill are regulations on the
ports' right of pre-emption with regard to concessions.
Some 2,500 port workers will be left without acquired rights, with
no compensation at all, and their companies may face bankruptcy,
the unionists say.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has in the meantime issued a
statement dismissing the unions' accusations and claiming that the
new bill will not jeopardise the ports' right to pre-emption with
regard to concessions.
Concessions have not been allocated only to the ports of Split and
Ploce, but the procedure is underway, the ministry said.
(hina) rml