LABOUR MINISTER ON SSSH'S LEAVING 'PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT'

ZAGREB, March 29 (Hina) - Labour and Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic said on Friday the decision of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) to leave the "Partnership for Development" programme was irresponsible and indicated lack of awareness of the gravity of the situation in Croatia. #L# "Some have obviously got carried away by watching recent workers' protests in Italy," Vidovic said at a news conference, adding that Croatia's premier was not Silvio Berlusconi and that Italy did not have a Social-Economic Council for dialogue among social partners. Vidovic cannot accept the SSSH's explanation that annexes to the social agreement the social partners signed last December have not been adopted and that the government's changes to the Labour Act are unacceptable. "This is just an alibi for lack of courage and responsibility of the largest union federation," Vidovic said. The government's changes to the Labour Act are only a starting point and not its proposal, he said, adding that union claims about the reduction of workers' rights had been encouraged by the media. He dismissed claims that the government sided with employers. "The government is not siding with any groups, its goal is general well- being, including the reduction of unemployment and the stimulation of employment," he said. He called on SSSH unions to remain part of the agreement and urged the Independent Croatian Trade Unions (NHI), the only union federation which did not sign "Partnership for Development", to fill the SSSH's place. Vidovic believes there is a coalition made up of some ruling and opposition parties, independent intellectuals and the media, who contest everything the government does. "This government is not God-given, which is exactly why it has chosen dialogue and cooperation," he said. (hina) rml