PLITVICE LAKES, Aug 26 (Hina) - The first draft of the social agreement which was presented on Saturday during the four-day Plitvice Lakes working meeting was assessed both by employers and unions as good foundations for the
conclusion of the final agreement.
PLITVICE LAKES, Aug 26 (Hina) - The first draft of the social
agreement which was presented on Saturday during the four-day
Plitvice Lakes working meeting was assessed both by employers and
unions as good foundations for the conclusion of the final
agreement.#L#
In line with this document drafted by the Government, the Economic
and Social Council is expected to elaborate a deal called the
"Partnership for Development" in the coming two months.
The basic objectives of the Partnership for Development is to help
establish social peace, define the liabilities and rights of social
partners, reach consensus as a pre-condition for overcoming the
current crisis as well as to help mobilise all social forces, read
the Government's proposal.
The agreement should solve all misunderstandings that have to date
burdened the relationship between the Government, unions and
employers, and which were caused by general social insecurity, a
lack of dialogue and consensus on joint aims and by inadequate legal
acts.
It is necessary to reach agreement so that this situation can be
changed. A part of those efforts will be directed towards the
strengthening of the rule of law and social security, the
continuation of restructuring and privatisation so that clear
ownership relations can be established, as well as towards the set-
up of mechanisms and instruments which can help workers to take part
in the decision-making process, the draft agreement read.
The head of the Federation of the Independent Unions of Croatia
(SSSH), Davor Juric, said the talks on the matter had proceeded
beyond all of his expectations. Now we are more confident that it is
possible to launch reforms and radical alterations in all fields in
order to discontinue negative trends and ensure the economic
stability.
Juric is aware that some conflicts may occur in concrete talks but
he believes that all parties can reach consensus.
Boris Kunst, the head of the Association of Workers' Unions (URS),
is also satisfied with the Plitvice Lakes talks.
The URS greets the open talks such were led at this meeting, he said
adding that this should have been done seven months before as the
situation was now so serious, that no delays must not be done in
attempts to improve it.
Kunst said all partners were aware that without social agreement
there would be no good solutions for problems inherited from the
former regime. Therefore, we advocate such an agreement but if a
task of unions will be to maintain the social peace then they can ask
to have a say in decisions on important issues. If the Government
manages to adopt high-quality development programmes and a clear
strategy for the economic progress until the autumn, we are ready to
cooperate, Kunst added.
He said his union was still preparing social activities for this
autumn bit the conflict could be avoided if the Government managed
to fulfil its promises.
A leader of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Zeljko
Ivancevic, assessed the meeting as something beyond all
expectations.
At the beginning of the talks I was pessimistic as employers were
outnumbered at the meeting, but after I heard speeches of Ministers
Goranko Fizulic, Radimir Cacic and Ivan Jakovcic, I saw that there
were people in the Government who understood the economic problems
and who advocated the aims of businessmen. Ivancevic described the
situation as more hopeful now. We have made the first, critical,
step, he added.
(hina) ms