ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Union of Commercial Sector Workers on Thursday slammed the statement of the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission to Croatia, Hans Flickenschild, that the ban on the work of shops
on Sunday should be lifted, describing it as act of interference in Croatia's sovereignty.
ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Union of Commercial Sector Workers
on Thursday slammed the statement of the head of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission to Croatia, Hans Flickenschild, that the
ban on the work of shops on Sunday should be lifted, describing it as
act of interference in Croatia's sovereignty.#L#
"It is unacceptable that a clerk of the international financial
organisation advises a sovereign state to give up the implementation
of a law, because laws have to be implemented in all law-based
states," the union said in a statement.
The statement does not surprise us, since the IMF has proven to be a
disruptor of social order, the unionists said.
Flickenschild's claim that the law banning the work of shops on
Sundays jeopardises sales and employment is groundless because
purchasing power in Croatia has not improved and only two percent of
consumers shop on Sunday, the union said.
"Flickeschild should know that the Labour Act defines Sunday as a day
of rest, and work on Sundays should be allowed only in vital sectors,
which commerce definitely isn't.
"We hope that the new government will send a clear message to the
gentlemen in the IMF that Croatia is a sovereign state and that we do
not need lecturing," the statement said.
(Hina) rml sb