FIRST DRAFT OF SOCIAL AGREEMENT PRESENTED TO EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS

PLITVICE LAKES, Aug 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Government and Social Welfare and Labour Ministry, which has made the first draft projection of social agreement, offered basic elements of the social agreement called "Partnership for Development" to employers and leaders of six major unions, on Saturday during a four-day working meeting at Plitvice Lakes. Presenting the draft document, Labour Minister Davorko Vidovic held a news conference. The Government and partners are on the right path to elaborate, in two months, a final draft of the social agreement, Vidovic adding that as of September 4 relevant factors should work on the document and it is likely to be signed by the end of 2000. The agreement should be effective by 2003, and it contains basic strategic goals and instruments of the social economic progress. We have not opted for the so-called Irish model or any other model in some European countries, but we have opted for the third model based on general social and democratic principles, Vidovic said. The project emphasises and strengthen the role of the Economic Social Council, and the Government suggests that this body should be the prime mover of the deal. A Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic said the project would oblige employers to pay salaries regularly and that the Government was much interested in the signing of this document. Draft documents was endorsed by the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) chairman, Zeljko Ivancevic. Leaders of the Federation of Independent Unions of Croatia (SSSH), Davor Juric and Vitomir Begovic commented on the proposed material. The head of the Association of Workers' Unions (URS), Boris Kunst, said this association would advocate a greater role of workers in the decision-making process. (hina) ms