'NOVOTEC' WORKERS PROTEST IN FRONT OF SWEDISH EMBASSY

ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - About 30 workers of tool manufacturer Novotec rallied in front of the Swedish Embassy in Zagreb on Friday, seeking the ambassador's help in solving the problems of the company owned by Sweden's Ericsson. Their representative Zoran Marenic appealed to Ambassador Ingemar Borjesson to urge Novotec's owner Felix Scmitt to consent to negotiations on workers' demands. They seek the payment of salaries for September and October, cash grants and compensation for overtime work, and if the company is liquidated or files for bankruptcy, the payment of severance wages and other rights contained in the work contract. Marenic told the ambassador the workers had been surplus labour at Ericsson and were employed at, which operates on Ericsson Nikola Tesla premises. Their contracts with Ericsson are still valid. Yesterday, about 40 workers received notices of termination of service. Ambassador Borjesson promised he would brief Ericsson about the workers' demands. He said he himself could not do much in the dispute, telling the protesters they should exercise their rights in court. He did however say the employer probably thought that in the conditions of new market economy, it was impossible to continue operating with surplus labour. (hina) ha jn