CROATIAN UNIONS AGAIN FORGIVE GOVT'S DISREGARD FOR SOCIAL PARTNERS

ZAGREB, Sept 8 (Hina) - Trade unions have once again forgiven the Croatian government its failure to include them in the decision- making, and they will not leave the Economic and Social Council (GSV), but will prepare proposals for the work of this body which consists of the representatives of the government, unions and employers. #L# At the GSV's session last Friday, government officials, unionists and employers agreed that in the future the Ivica Racan cabinet should consult social partners prior to making decisions referring to the standard of citizens. Before the session which was convened to revolve around higher prices of gas and electricity, unions' representatives threatened to walk out of the Council, accusing the government of ignoring them once again. Although they assess that this was a great failure of the government, unionists, however, believe that their departure from the Council would now come at an inopportune time, as the possible discontinuation of the Council's work would mean a step backward. The leader of the Croatian Federation of Unions (HUS), Zdenko Mucnjak, says the Council is a body which Croatia needs. Mucnjak admits that Croatia has a higher level of the social dialogue than many other countries. This dialogue should further be enhanced. Therefore in the coming month, unionists will prepare proposals for this purpose. Subjects will be defined pertaining to the issues which should be discussed by the Council before the government makes decision on them. The leader of the Independent Croatian Unions (NHS), Kresimir Sever, thinks that the Council has recently become a place in which the government only notifies its social partners of its decisions rather than asking for their opinion. (hina) ms