ZAGREB, July 25 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) and three union federations on Thursday informed the public of their joint proposal for reforms in state administration, the labour market,
education, health and some other reforms necessary for the enhancement of Croatia's competitiveness and accelerated economic growth.
ZAGREB, July 25 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Employers'
Association (HUP) and three union federations on Thursday informed
the public of their joint proposal for reforms in state
administration, the labour market, education, health and some
other reforms necessary for the enhancement of Croatia's
competitiveness and accelerated economic growth. #L#
The proposal was presented at a news conference by the HUP and the
SSSH (Federation of the Independent Croatian Unions), the URSH
(Federation of Workers' Unions of Croatia) and the HUS (Croatian
Federation of Unions).
Last Friday employers and unionists drew up a document on 11
necessary reforms and on deadlines for their implementation. They
sent it to the new prime minister designate, Ivica Racan.
It is important that the new government be acquainted with this
proposal while it is preparing its programme, the HUP chairman,
Zeljko Ivancevic, said.
Both employers and unionists criticised the resigned government
for showing inability to address serious problems in the economy.
URSH leader Boris Kunst accused the former government of wasting
time in the last two and a half years without finding solutions for
economic problems.
The new cabinet should finally make some progress, Kunst said,
urging the new government to seriously take the document proposed
by the employers and the unions.
According to their joint proposal, a reform in the labour market
should be presented by 1 October, the aim of which is to remove
obstacles for a greater flexibility in the employment policy and
for better mobility on the labour market.
The unions and employers urge fiscal adjustment. A fiscal policy
should ensure a decrease in the state deficit and debt at a viable
level in the 2003-5 period.
The state deficit should fall to 5.5 percent of Gross Domestic
Product in 2003, to five (5) percent in 2004 and to 4.5% of GDP in
2005. Public debt, including state collateral, should drop below 50
percent of GDP, according to the document.
The unionists and employers advocate the presentation of the
reforms in social welfare and in the judiciary, and the
continuation of the pension reform by early October.
By 1 November, a reform in public administration with cuts in the
number of ministries and decentralisation should be promoted as
well.
The same deadline is for the presentation of reforms in public
health, education, science, and for the presentation of the
privatisation of public companies, programmes for investment,
export and state subsidies, as well as for the stimulation of
technological development.