UNIONS DISSATISFIED WITH CHANGES TO LABOUR ACT, ANNOUNCE PROTEST RALLIES

ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH) has expected far more from the proposed changes to the Labour Act and it will therefore organise protest rallies on the day of the parliamentary debate on the bill, URSH representatives said on Tuesday. "The proposed changes push us back to the times of HDZ's rule, which proves that the then Opposition, by coming to power, has lost its social sensitivity," URSH president Boris Kunst told reporters. The association believes parliamentary deputies would be more responsible than the government and it will try to win them over to accept their amendments to the bill. The URSH will try and consider joint action with other union federations, Kunst said. The URSH is disappointed because the government has not adopted their proposal for a 40-hour work week. Reducing work hours would enable greater employment and would be logical because the 40-hour work week is part of most branch collective agreements, Kunst said. He also criticised the extension of conditions for extraordinary dismissals for pregnant women and part time workers, as well as reduced protection for workers employed with "small employers." The most positive change to the law is the right to go on strike in case of the non-payment of wages, Kunst said. (hina) rml