CROATIA & NETHERLANDS SIGN SOCIAL INSURANCE AGREEMENT

( Editorial: --> 9703 ) ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Hina) - Croatia and the Netherlands on Friday signed an agreement on health and pension insurance. The contract was signed by Labour and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara and Dutch Ambassador Jozef Willem Scheffers. This is the fifth agreement between the two countries and it regulates the rights of Croatian and Dutch citizens in the area of health insurance and protection as well as their rights in pension and disability insurance. Since the establishment of its independence in 1991, Croatia has signed new contracts, or those taken over from the former state valid contracts on social insurance with about 20 countries. The old contracts, which were taken over from the former state, are being applied until the new ones are signed. This was the case with the social insurance contract with the Netherlands. Contracts with the Czech Republic, Great Britain and Canada are waiting to be signed. Croatia has already prepared draft agreements with Bosnia- Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Spain, France, Belgium, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Argentina, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. (hina) jn rml 111539 MET sep 98