ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Government, trade unions, and employers signed an agreement on the establishment of the Economy and Social Council (GSV) in Zagreb on Tuesday. After over a six-months-long pause,
the GSV, which harmonises interests of the Government, trade unions and employers, was re-activated by the signing of the agreement. The three parties agreed that the re-establishment of the GSV would initiate the strengthening of the social dialogue in the time of social tensions in Croatia. According to presidents of Croatia's five union federations, Croatia entered a period of intensified conflicts; political, due to the upcoming elections, as well as economic and social. The new GSV should develop the social dialogue and calm the situation, the trade unions representatives said. According to Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, the Government has be
ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Government,
trade unions, and employers signed an agreement on the
establishment of the Economy and Social Council (GSV) in Zagreb on
Tuesday.
After over a six-months-long pause, the GSV, which harmonises
interests of the Government, trade unions and employers, was re-
activated by the signing of the agreement.
The three parties agreed that the re-establishment of the GSV would
initiate the strengthening of the social dialogue in the time of
social tensions in Croatia.
According to presidents of Croatia's five union federations,
Croatia entered a period of intensified conflicts; political, due
to the upcoming elections, as well as economic and social.
The new GSV should develop the social dialogue and calm the
situation, the trade unions representatives said.
According to Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, the Government
has been supporting the social dialogue and GSV's activities during
its entire mandate.
Matesa said that talks between the Government and trade unions were
successful in almost every crisis situation, such as strikes and
protests staged due to transitional problems. According to the
Prime Minister, agreements were achieved and carried out.
The five union federations demanded that trade unions
representatives be included in administration councils of the
Croatian Institute for Health Insurance, Croatian Radio
Television, and the Croatian Bureau for Statistics.
Matesa stressed the Government supported trade unions' memberships
in the Institute for Health Insurance, HRT, and Bureau for
Statistics administration boards.
President of the Croatian Employers' Association Branko Roglic
expressed hope that the GSV would start solving economic problems
by a consensus.
GSV's previous composition stopped being active in late 1998, when
several trade unions refused to extend a current agreement on the
GSV, due to disagreements about the representation of certain
federations in the GSV.
The disagreements have been cleared up by passing a law on the
establishment of the trade union representation in national
tripartite bodies and the signing of a trade union agreement on
tripartition, and the GSV can start with its work.
(hina) it jn