ZAGREB HOSTS INT. SEMINAR ON PROSPECTS OF SOCIAL DIALOGUE

ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - Social dialogue in Croatia still has not reached a satisfactory level, the president of the largest union federation said on Thursday opening a two-day international seminar on prospects of social dialogue. The seminar has been organised by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia in cooperation with the International Labour Organisation. The intention is to acquaint Croatia's union commissioners with experiences in union negotiations in Central and East Europe, Ireland, and Italy via lectures by international experts. The participants were welcomed by Croatia's Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic, who said Croatia's society had no future unless it nurtured social dialogue and tolerance. Speaking about the future of social dialogue in Croatia, the president of the Economic and Social Council, Vitomir Begovic, said that social partners, namely unions, employers, and the government, should realise that the rights and obligations of employees and employers must be regulated only by work agreements. Given the extent of the social and economic crisis, priority should be given to formulating a social pact which will make social partners focus on settling open economic and social issues and carrying out a series of reforms, Begovic said. (hina) ha