ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - Labour and Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic said after Wednesday's session of the Economic-Social Council that all three social partners (government, employers, unions) agreed everything had been done to
prevent the government's latest social restrictions from impinging on the poorer social categories. Vidovic said an economic development strategy was likely to be defined in coming months. Satisfied with today's talks, he said the three social partners had confirmed a high level of agreement and understanding for the need of social reforms. The minister said the partners were told saving was not expected only in the social sphere, but other fields as well. The announced amendments to some 15 laws, expected in September, are only one of seven packages of amendments that should help in the financial consolidation of the state, he added. The manager
ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - Labour and Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic
said after Wednesday's session of the Economic-Social Council that
all three social partners (government, employers, unions) agreed
everything had been done to prevent the government's latest social
restrictions from impinging on the poorer social categories.
Vidovic said an economic development strategy was likely to be
defined in coming months. Satisfied with today's talks, he said the
three social partners had confirmed a high level of agreement and
understanding for the need of social reforms.
The minister said the partners were told saving was not expected
only in the social sphere, but other fields as well. The announced
amendments to some 15 laws, expected in September, are only one of
seven packages of amendments that should help in the financial
consolidation of the state, he added.
The manager of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Zeljko
Ivancevic, said employers supported the government's endeavours to
cut public spending and introduce order in the sphere of social
entitlements and expenses.
"We believe that cutting public spending and relieving the economy
is one of the prerequisites of economic development and for the
implementation of the government's measures, as it is difficult to
expect a rise of employment and export without it," said
Ivancevic.
He added the HUP had recently invited the government to resume
talks, in about eight days, about measures aimed at kick-starting
production.
The secretary-general of the Federation of Independent Trade
Unions of Croatia (SSSH), Vitomir Begovic, said unions maintained
that changes in the social policy must not be the result of
engagements with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
but of a consensus between the social partners and other social
factors.
It is imperative to establish a method of statistically following
the costs of living, a family's existential minimum, a national
poverty threshold, and changes in the tax system on the principle of
fairness, according to Begovic.
The SSSH has suggested acquainting social partners by Oct. 15 with
the starting point of the economic policy for the remainder of this
and next year, and with the price and employment stimulation
policy.
The president of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions, Zdenko
Mucnjak, said the social partners had agreed order and control
should be introduced in current social expenses. He added, however,
any restriction of social entitlements should be preceded by a
consensus with representatives of all social groups.
(hina) ha sb