ZAGREB, Nov 28 (Hina)- The government will not give in to unreasonable pressure to increase public service salaries, Premier Ivica Racan stated on Thursday following a government session that endorsed a final draft budget for next
year.
ZAGREB, Nov 28 (Hina)- The government will not give in to
unreasonable pressure to increase public service salaries, Premier
Ivica Racan stated on Thursday following a government session that
endorsed a final draft budget for next year. #L#
He reiterated that the government was not prepared to stop
development projects that were vital for Croatia and instead of
entering into any possible debts for projects, to take loans for
spending and unrealistic appetites for larger salaries.
Racan pointed out that the government would earmark more funds for
education and science next year, being fully aware that investments
into that sector would secure future and development.
At its session on Thursday the government concluded that salaries
for teachers next year would be assigned an additional 200 million
kuna (271,000 euros) more than this year.
Racan said that a rough estimate showed that on the basis of just
that, salaries for teachers in 2003 could increase by about six to
seven percent.
He stated that the government would no longer give in to pressures
and strikes and in that context stated that the government would not
make any further decisions about salaries for Sisak Ironworks
employees, which was again bankrupt.
One needs to come to an agreement with the ironworks to see if it has
any future prospects or not. If it has, then the government needs to
find an appropriate strategic partner. If this is not achieved, one
should face the fact that the plant has no prospects and the
difficult social situation that will occur as a consequence, Racan
said.
(hina) sp lml sb