ZAGREB, Dec 27 (Hina) - The government has not frozen salaries in state and public services and public companies, as the media are wrongly interpreting, but adopted conclusions on a salary policy in the coming period, a government
official said on Wednesday. At its Dec. 22 session, the government did not pass any salary freezing decree, but adopted two decrees with legislative power to halt salary raises in 2001 for state and judicial officials, Deputy Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic told Hina. As regards state and civil servants and workers in public companies, their salaries have not been frozen, but the government took a stance to the effect that growths in their salaries should be restricted, as what has not been earned cannot be distributed, she said. The government decided to exert its right to terminate work agreements for state and public services and public companies and within three mon
ZAGREB, Dec 27 (Hina) - The government has not frozen salaries in
state and public services and public companies, as the media are
wrongly interpreting, but adopted conclusions on a salary policy in
the coming period, a government official said on Wednesday.
At its Dec. 22 session, the government did not pass any salary
freezing decree, but adopted two decrees with legislative power to
halt salary raises in 2001 for state and judicial officials, Deputy
Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic told Hina.
As regards state and civil servants and workers in public
companies, their salaries have not been frozen, but the government
took a stance to the effect that growths in their salaries should be
restricted, as what has not been earned cannot be distributed, she
said.
The government decided to exert its right to terminate work
agreements for state and public services and public companies and
within three months sign new ones, which will be adjusted to the new
salary policy, said Antunovic.
She added the government would form a task force to work out a
platform for salary policy negotiations with social partners,
unions and employers, and was hopeful an agreement on a joint salary
policy would e reached by April.
Negotiations should begin in January and might be discussed by the
Economic and Social Council at next week's session. Council
president Vitomir Begovic said unions would attempt to define a
joint strategy before negotiations began, and that one-sided steps
by the government would not lead to a solution acceptable for all.
The salary policy must be connected as closely as possible
to the price, tax, and employment policies, Begovic said, adding
the minimum and maximum salaries in the state should also be
defined.
(hina) ha