CRO ASSOCIATION OF UNEMPLOYED - UNEMPLOYMENT RATE EXCEEDS 25%

ZAGREB, Apr 1 (Hina) - The leaders of the recently established Association of the Unemployed (ZANE) on Thursday warned unemployment in Croatia had reached catastrophic proportions. In February, 313,000 people were registered with the Employment Bureau. According to Djuro Njavro, chairman of the government committee for finances and the state budget, the unemployment rate in Croatia is only 11 percent and is not that much of a problem. ZANE chairman Velimir Jurisic says the unemployment rate in truth exceeds 25 percent, and adds that claims like Njavro's are not only irritating, but offensive as well. The ZANE will shortly present concrete proposals and programmes aimed at decreasing unemployment and forward them to government and international organisations dealing with the issue, Jurisic said. The president of the Association of the Unemployed of Croatia, Fjodor Kuzmanic, announced cooperation with the ZANE. We will seek changes to the Labour Law to ensure that the unemployed receive compensation throughout the time they are out of work, as is the practice in civilised countries, Kuzmanic said. He stated at the moment 260,000 people registered with the Employment Bureau receive no compensation whatsoever, while almost 140,000 employed work but receive no salaries. The ZANE is contrary to the taxation of students' and pupils' authors' fees as, it believes, this will further decrease the already very low students' standard. The ZANE reminded that in all western countries employers are exempt from paying contributions when employing students, while in Croatia the introduction of additional taxes has an utterly discouraging effect. (hina) ha jn