GOVT APPROVES 2000 KUNA PAYMENT FOR TEACHERS WHO WORKED

( Editorial: --> 3610 ) ZAGREB, June 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Government has accepted a proposal by Education Minister Bozidar Pugelnik to give education employees who worked during the protest actions a one-off payment of 2,000 kuna. Neither Pugelnik nor Premier Zlatko Matesa have given the precise number of people who would have the right to this payment, nor the amount which would have to be set aside for this purpose. "They are not strike breakers as they have been called but individuals who understand the position which the children, school system and the Ministry are in," said Pugelnik. Matesa, reminding that the Government's position has remained the same from the start of the protest, said the Government could not tolerate children being taken advantage of and being called to join the protest. The Government has proposed a 30 per cent pay rise for this year, as well as anniversary awards, Christmas bonus and children's gifts, Matesa said. The Government has also specified that during the drawing up of the 1998 school system budget the wage increase will rise four to five per cent faster than the other expenditures, Matesa added. The Government has sent to Parliament the final bills on the annulment of the law on the takeover and management of certain property and on the annulment of the law on the leasing and renting of flats in the liberated territory. Temporary use, management and control over certain property will be settled by the return programme which is yet to be adopted by Parliament, said Development and Reconstruction Minister Jure Radic. (hina) as bag/rml 251339 MET jun 98