COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS FOR PUBLIC AND STATE SERVICES SIGNED

ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - The government and unions of public and civil services on Thursday signed basic collective agreements for public and civil services. Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic also signed with the union representatives amendments to the provision on salary coefficients, and an agreement on the basis for jubilee awards, the amount of money for gifts for children and Christmas bonuses. The government at first suggested that the Christmas bonus and children's gift should amount to 250, which the unions refused. In the end, an agreement was reached whereas children's gifts would be 400 kuna, and that instead of the Christmas bonus, the amount be paid only to those employees whose salaries dropped by 100 or more kuna in June. School unions signed with the government a special agreement on Christmas bonus and children's' gift of 250 kuna each. Representatives of the government and unions expressed satisfaction with the signing of the agreements after two months of negotiations. The basic gross salary for next year will remain at the same level, 4,232.43 kuna. Talks with unions lasted for several months and ended last week. The talks were held on a partnership basis, the unions showed readiness to assume responsibility not only for changes, but also for the future of Croatia, Granic said. He assessed that there were great chances for the signing of an agreement for the development of a social pact for the future of Croatia between the government, unions and employers. (hina) lml sb