TRADE UNIONS, EMPLOYERS URGE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON ECONOMY

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - Croatian trade unions and employers asked the Croatian National Parliament to hold an urgent discussion on the economic and social situation in the country. Representatives of the federation of independent trade unions (SSSH) and the Croatian employers' association (HUP) forwarded a letter with this request to the Presidency of the Sabor, the SSSH leader, Davor Juric, told a news conference in Zagreb on Tuesday. Before the sitting of the Sabor, the Government should organise a tripartite discussion on a pension system reform and the employment policy, Juric added. During the March talks with Premier Zlatko Matesa, no agreement was reached on solving accumulated problems, Juric stressed. In the meantime, the authorities began exploiting NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) as a pretext for the deterioration of the situation, although the situation in the economy had been catastrophic before the start of the NATO operation, Juric added. On May Day, the SSSH organises a big protest in the Maksimir Park in Zagreb, and expects that the rally will attract a great number of workers from all parts of Croatia as well as many public figures and politicians from Zagreb. In addition, protest rallies will be held on May 1 in Osijek, Split, and Pula, the SSSH announced at the press conference. (hina) jn ms