ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan stated on Tuesday evening that the Government was expecting the reversed trend in the unemployment. Granting an interview to the Croatian Television news programme "Dnevnik Plus"
Premier Racan said he would not forecast anything but he assumed the commitment to reversing this trend in the jobless rate and cut the number of unemployed persons in the beginning of the next year. He cited the data that at the moment there were some 370,000 persons on the dole. In this context the Premier recalled grave economic circumstances the incumbent Government inherited from former authorities, but assessed that it was now on the good path. Confirming his statement, Racan said that this year the number of employees with industry was reduced by two percent while their productivity rose by five percent. Miracles are not possible overnight but the path is clear
ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan stated on
Tuesday evening that the Government was expecting the reversed
trend in the unemployment.
Granting an interview to the Croatian Television news programme
"Dnevnik Plus" Premier Racan said he would not forecast anything
but he assumed the commitment to reversing this trend in the jobless
rate and cut the number of unemployed persons in the beginning of
the next year.
He cited the data that at the moment there were some 370,000 persons
on the dole.
In this context the Premier recalled grave economic circumstances
the incumbent Government inherited from former authorities, but
assessed that it was now on the good path. Confirming his statement,
Racan said that this year the number of employees with industry was
reduced by two percent while their productivity rose by five
percent. Miracles are not possible overnight but the path is clear,
he stressed.
He announced that the Government would use various means and ways to
help the economy (through, for instance, cuts in taxes and
contributions), and also called on other employers to honour their
obligations. We want to regulate by law that it is impossible for
anyone to work and not to receive salaries regularly, PM said.
The Government will try to ensure that state and public services
work better and more sensitively in social sense. It is important
that public servants show every day that they serve citizens,
Premier added.
He said that at the moment there were legal obstacles for the
replacement of those who did not work well in public and state
services. We shall have to change law and ensure greater
competition in this sector, Racan told TV audience.
According to him, next year will see the completion of the
reconstruction of war-damaged or demolished houses. The Croatian
Government is bound to compensate means which Croatian citizens who
have used temporarily houses of Serb refugees, invested in their
renovation, he added.
Commenting on plans about the reorganisation of the Croatian army,
the Premier also announced the reduction in the period of military
service to six or even five months and changes in civilian service
of conscription.
(hina) ms