NEW MAKE-UP OF CRO ECONOMIC-SOCIAL COUNCIL TO CONVENE WEDNESDAY

ZAGREB, Feb 29 (Hina) - Croatia's Economic-Social Council (GSV) will convene in Zagreb on Wednesday for the first time after January's parliamentary elections. The session will gather representatives of trade unions, employers, and the government, who should agree on GSV's future work and discuss preparations for the passing of this year's budget. The government should be represented by deputy premiers Slavko Linic and Zeljka Antunovic, Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac, Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic, and Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic. The unions will be represented by officials from five union federations, and employers by members of the Croatian Employers' Association. Minister Vidovic announced the government would in the future institutionalise GSV's work and appoint a secretary. The unions have already requested changes to an agreement on the establishment of the GSV to regulate that no issue of interest to social partners may be forwarded to the government or parliament without being previously discussed by the GSV. The unions will also request that a salary policy, especially the issue of irregular payments, be put on the GSV agenda at once. (hina) ha jn