CRO TRADE UNIONS DEMAND HIGHER WAGES, MORE TAX CATEGORIES

ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - The Association of Croatian Independent Trade Unions (SSSH) on 3 July forwarded to Croatian premier Zlatko Matesa an official initiative for the continuation of negotiations with the government and the SSSH Council also determined a list of trade unions demands, SSSH told a press conference in Zagreb on Thursday. SSSH president Davor Juric demanded that the government immediately revoke a decision to limit the amount of wage funds which affected 42 per cent of employees. Juric quoted deputy prime minister Borislav Skegro as saying recently that reasons for which the decision had been made were no longer valid. SSSH demanded that the non-taxable income be increased from 700 kunas (DEM 200) to 1,100 kunas (about DEM 300), and that amendments to the tax law include seven tax categories. SSSH also demanded that labour and social welfare minister Joso Skara fulfill his obligation, undertaken in February, to establish special councils for labour judiciary at regular courts. Juric pointed out that from now on SSSH wanted to have more influence on the strategy and development of Croatian economy, particularly on issues relating to unemployment and the active employment policy. Currently in Croatia there were 260,000 unemployed, 40,000 working for bankrupt employers and 191,000 working for insolvent companies, whereas 137,000 workers received no wages for months, Juric concluded. (hina) ha jn 041647 MET jul 96