GOVT ADOPTS NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY

( Editorial: --> 9617 ) ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Government Thursday adopted a national employment policy. It will be forwarded to the national Parliament for discussion, alongside a bill on the duties and rights of officials. According to Labour and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara, the measures of the national employment policy include measures for the reduction of high unemployment, the reduction of labour costs, measures for organised clearance of surplus labour, for offering new jobs, for the increase in efficiency of the social protection network, and especially measures for the employment of Croatian defenders. Members of the Government pointed out that tax relieving must be effected through lower direct labour costs, by cancelling child's allowance tax, water supply tax, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce membership fee, and by reducing pension and health insurance tax rates. According to the bill on duties and rights of officials, the term 'official' would refer to the President of the Republic, members of the National Parliament, judges of the Constitutional Court, members of the Government, and officials appointed or elected by the National Parliament or the President of the Republic. Upon coming into office, officials would have the duty to give statements in writing on their income scale, said Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar. They could be members of administrative or supervisory boards or trade association assemblies, but remuneration for this work would go directly into the budget, Mlakar said. The bill also regulates the issue of gifts presented to officials, the right to pension according to pension insurance provisions, and determines the circle of officials with the right to have a residence house. (hina) ha mm 051407 MET feb 98