UNION URGES GOVT TO RESPECT AGREEMENTS ON PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC COMPANIES

ZAGREB, May 18 (Hina) - If the authorities are not willing to respect agreements on the privatisation of public companies, such as the Croatian Oil Industry (INA) and the Croatian Power Industry (HEP), the Union of Energy, Chemical and Non-Metal Industry Workers is ready for all forms of protest, including blocking roads, the Union's president Ivan Tomac said on Thursday. "We are reminding the new authority that the Federation of Independent Workers' Unions of Croatia and the former government signed an annex to the agreement on the privatisation of public companies," Tomac told reporters. The annex gives workers and pensioners the right to privileged purchase of shares and binds the government to maintain the employment level during the company's sale as well as use funds from the sale for employment stimulation. The Union recently sent the Government draft changes to the Law on Payment Transactions in order to enable the continuation of operation of companies which are facing bankruptcy proceedings and whose accounts have therefore been blocked. The Government should adopt a regulation enabling trustees to issue orders of transfer so that a company would not lose its market until the start of bankruptcy proceedings, the Union believes. (hina) jn rml