GOVT, UNIONS ESTABLISH SOCIAL DIALOGUE

ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - Croatian Vice-Premiers Goran Granic and Slavko Linic and representatives of the Croatian Trade Unions Association (HUS) met on Tuesday to discuss the government's policy in the coming period and communication among social partners. Linic told the unionists the government's economic policy in the coming period would focus on the restructuring and privatisation of large systems, stimulation of shipbuilding and food industries, and privatisation in the tourism sector, the Government's public relations office said in a statement today. In order to stabilise market relations, the government will collect taxes and contributions, combat grey economy and black market and next year set aside sizeable funds to stimulate small and medium businesses, Linic said presenting the reform measures in the economy. The government officials and the unionists, led by Zdenko Mucnjak, agreed improving communication among social partners was in the interest of all. The HUS officials told Croatian Radio the two sides had established social dialogue and agreed all difficult issues should be solved through dialogue rather than protest meetings in downtown Zagreb. HUS's Mucnjak said the government members had accepted union arguments that privatisation should be conducted in a different way, to include worker participation as well. (hina) rml