SSSH SEEKS FOR WORKERS ONE THIRD OF SEATS IN SUPERVISORY BOARDS

ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - A coordinating body for multinational companies at the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) on Wednesday demanded that workers be given one third of seats in the companies' supervisory boards. SSSH demands amendments to the Law on Companies which would enable employees to elect one third of members sitting on supervisory boards in companies which employ them, thus participating in decision-making on the management of the companies, body president Damir Gasparovic told reporters. SSSH also suggests the introduction of the "workers' director" institution, in other words that workers elect one member to the board of directors to protect their interests within management. SSSH again requested the application of the social clause in cases when multinational companies take over Croatian companies. The clause would preserve, for a certain period of time, all former positions and salary amounts in the company which has been taken over. "We seek a radical turnabout in resolving issues of employees' participation in the management of companies," said Gasparovic. He added that if the government wanted to lead Croatia into the European Union, it should acknowledge standards in employees' rights, of which the workers' right to participate in decision- making is one of the fundamental democratic rights in developed countries. (hina) ha jn