HUP ECONOMIC BOARD HAILS GOVT. SOCIAL RESTRICTION PLAN

ZAGREB, Sept 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Employer Union's (HUP) Economic Board feels a Croatian government's social restriction plan should be hailed, but adds not enough forethought went into it, similar to the case of the wage reform, when not all of the restriction potential had been used. Commenting on a government's social policy draft for the 2001-02 period, the Board listed a number of specific complaints, among which that the proposed measures have no clear stimulation concerning fiscal duties. It also states that room for restriction decreases with the postponement of the parliamentary discussion on the bill. Considering the fact that around 15 bills need changing, and that the amendments will be adopted through a regular parliamentary procedure (through two readings), instead of through an emergency procedure, most of the proposed measures will only start to affect the situation in November, which will make this year's savings minimal. That also brings into question the implementation of the planned deficit of the consolidated state amounting to 5.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Board stated in the Ekonomski monitor monthly. (hina) js