WORLD CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR VISITS CRO WORKERS' UNION FEDERAT.

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - A delegation of the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) on Thursday visited the Association of Workers' Unions of Croatia (URSH) and discussed with its leaders the economic and social situation in Croatia and an URSH request for admittance to the WCL. The WCL is an international federation of unions of democratic Christian orientation. With its 26 million members in 11 countries around the world, it is among the strongest international union associations. The URSH is the first Croatian union association which requested admittance to the WCL. WCL vice president Bogdan Hossu said the main criteria for a union association to be admitted to the WCL were its political and financial independence and ability for collective negotiating. WCL members also share the Christian system of values and an inclination to social dialogue, he added. Hossu said the WCL was concerned with the lack of genuine social dialogue between the government and unions in Croatia, and was also willing to assist via its European offices URSH in protecting the rights of its members. (hina) ha