CROATIAN LOWER HOUSE ENDS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL WELFARE BILL

ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Representatives concluded its work for Thursday after discussions on several items on the agenda. The lower house considered a final bill on social welfare. At the discussion on this issue, in which only opposition parties' deputies took part, MPs described the bill as necessary and acceptable, but anticipated that there would be no sufficient financial means to apply that law, due to economic circumstances in which Croatia is now. A social welfare law was a social and political act that must have a foothold in the country's economic potential, said Josko Kovac on behalf of the Croatian Peasants' (HSS) bench. He saw a solution to the problem in creation of jobs and in incentives to production and handicrafts. On behalf of the Social Democratic Party's (SDP) bench, Marin Jurjevic, agreed that creation of jobs would be the best social policy, and added that a balance had to be reached between burning social issues and development of market economy. Dino Debeljuh of the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS), commented on the bill's provision under which units of local self-government had to allocate five (5) percent from their budgets for social welfare. He posed the question which indicators induced the relevant ministry to choose that percentage. "I hold that it is disputable whether any percentage could be imposed by law," Debeljuh said. Several MPs agreed with this statement, and warned that the percentage would be no problem for 'rich' municipalities and towns, but it would be a burden for small and not so developed municipalities. "The bill has been nicely envisaged, but the number of social welfare applicants is high and I fear that the bill could not be applied," said Ivan Gabelica of the Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP), and added that the number of the jobless was increasing and could reach 320,000 until the end of 1997, according to some estimates. Some deputies advocated better care for the old and infirm who live in the villages. Several MPs also proposed that this bill be sent into the third reading. The lower house considered a bill on passenger transport by ship lines, which was in the first reading. It proposed improvement in maritime transport so that lines could be divided into state, county and local ones, according to their importance. An assistant to Minister of Maritime Affairs and Transport, Mario Babic, submitted a government program for the renovation of the fleet for passenger transport, under which 24 new ships would be provided by 2000. The lower house concluded a discussion on a draft decision on aid for towns and municipalities aimed at partial compensation of damage caused by natural disaster in first five months this year. According to the decision, the aid, worth about 11.5 million kuna (about US$1.9 million) is distributed to ten counties, 23 towns and 85 municipalities. It is expected that 38 million kuna (approximately 6.2 million dlrs) will be earmarked from the 1997 state budget for such purposes. The House of Representatives will continue its 20th session on Friday when deputies should vote on about 30 items. (hina) jn mš 261626 MET jun 97