ECONOMIC-SOCIAL COUNCIL URGES SOCIAL AGREEMENT BY SEPT. 25

ZAGREB, Sept 6 (Hina) - The draft of a social agreement to be signed by the government, trade unions, and employers should be ready by September 25, Croatia's Economic and Social Council (GSV) agreed at Wednesday's session in Zagreb. The social partners agreed that a tripartite task force in charge of drafting the "Partnership for Development" agreement should deliver the document before drafting commenced on next year's state budget, so that the social agreement's elements might be harmonised with the budget. Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic said GSV accepted the model of the agreement the government offered trade unions and employers two weeks ago. Specific issues will be elaborated in annexes to the agreement. The minister said GSV assessed a Finance Ministry draft development strategy as realistic, especially since it forsees next year's budget on the level of the current one. According to GSV president Vitomir Begovic, the discussion on the social agreement should include political parties, non- governmental organisations, and veterans' associations. He announced next week he would meet representatives of trade unions which are not members of union federations, in view of including them in the harmonisation of the agreement. Minister Vidovic believes as wide a consensus as possible should be reached on the agreement. He called on all to contribute. (hina) ha