GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE CARING ABOUT SISAK IRONWORKS' DESTINY

ZAGREB/SISAK, June 7 (Hina) - A Croatian Deputy Prime Minister, Slavko Linic, the management of the Sisak-based ironworks, representatives of metal workers' union and local authorities in the town of Sisak last night agreed on the payment of the second part of April salaries until Friday. The Government will do its best to ensure th survival of the Sisak iron plant, said participants in Tuesday evening's meeting. The session was held following a six-day strike of 2,600 ironworks employees who protested over the failure to pay them the second part of April salaries and over uncertain destiny of their company. Payment of salaries will be late in the future, maintained the ironworks' director Boris Sokol. "Deputy PM Linic has told us that the Government, the Croatian Privatisation Fund (HFP) and the relevant ministry will continue taking care of the Ironworks until its status is settled," Sokol said. The Government's public relations office issued a statement saying that at the moment the Government cannot give a definite answer about the ironworks' destiny, namely its restructuring, but it will follow the payment of salaries until the completion of a procedure of the company's rehabilitation. "Linic told us that we shall receive the answer about the ironworks' future after the revision of a programme adopted by the previous government. We hope that the ironworks will not go into bankruptcy," said Sisak Mayor, Darko Pavlak. (hina) mm ms