ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Monday forwarded a message to all Croatian citizens on the eve of May 1 - International Labour Day.
ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Monday
forwarded a message to all Croatian citizens on the eve of May 1 -
International Labour Day. #L#
Racan stressed that the government would continue investing
efforts to increase economic growth, exports and investments. With
that objective in mind, the government has initiated social
dialogue about the flexibility of the labour market, he said.
"Whether we will succeed does not depend solely on the government
but on the success of the dialogue between social partners," Racan
stressed.
The Prime Minister believes that success is not possible without
the support and patience of all citizens whom he thanked on behalf
of the government for their tolerance.
The government today issued a special statement in response to
union claims that it is not clear what the government intends to
achieve with the announced amendments to the Labour Act.
Reforms of labour legislation are just part of a series of
preconditions necessary for development, new investments and new
jobs, the government said in response to union objections to
amendments to the Labour Act which the unions believe will not
improve the competitiveness of Croatia's economy.
The government explained that reforms to labour legislation were
just part of measures directed towards increasing competitiveness,
investments and exports. At the same time, reforms in the judiciary
and administration will secure fair market competition and remove
obstacles to investments, the statement said.
The government emphasised that it was important to maintain an
implementable and realistic level of workers' rights and that
anything above that should be determined in collective bargaining
between unions and employers.
The Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), too, forwarded a Labour
Day message to the workers, unions and citizens.
HUP expects social dialogue to continue so that workers' rights can
be protected and conditions for economic growth secured as the only
way to create job prospects for the unemployed - the most threatened
category of Croatia's work force, the association said.
(hina) sp sb