SABOR ACCEPTS BILL ON WORKING HOURS OF STORES

ZAGREB, June 1 (Hina) - Croatia is a tourism-orientated country, and the spending of tourists outside of hotels is minimal and significantly less than in other tourism countries. Considering the fact that in these countries stores are open until later in the day, somewhere more than 70 hours per week, in relation to our 40 hours a week, it is clear why our profits are lesser, Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said before the Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives, explaining the draft law on work time in retail stores. The law in its first reading was accepted unanimously. The law precisely determines the working hours of stores across the country, which should increase profits and the number of employees, Fizulic said. He mentioned stores in summer resorts which work, he said, when people are on the beach, instead of working when necessary. The law suggests that food stores during the tourist season open at 7am at the latest, and close at 10pm at the earliest. An increase in working hours is not requested, but rather that stores work during the summer as it is appropriate, Fizulic said. The Lower House accepted the bill on census, households and flats in its first reading. By the law, a census would be carried out from April 1 to 15,2000. (hina) lml mm