CROATIA, SLOVENIA DISCUSS DRAFT AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL INSURANCE

ZAGREB, 11 Oct (Hina) - Croatian and Slovene delegations met on Friday in the Croatian Pension and Disability Insurance Fund to discuss a draft contract on social insurance, which is aimed at regulating health, pension and disability insurance, casualty and occupational disease insurance and unemployment insurance. The two delegations were led by the Croatian Pension and Disability Insurance Fund deputy head, Ante Skember, and state secretary in the Slovene Labour Ministry, Natasa Belopavlovic. #L# The two sides agreed that insurees would have all rights which they acquired in line with legal regulations in the period before the two countries became independent, after the proclamation of their independence and in the future, when social issues will be regulated by an agreement on social insurance. It had been agreed that the acquisition of pension allowance would be based on the addition of the length of service for retirement in both countries and that insurees would receive two pensions, one from Slovenia and the other from Croatia. All retirees will have health insurance, and in case of visit to one of the two countries, they will have the right to urgent medical aid. The Croatian delegation also addressed the problem of Slovene insurees - disabled workers with the remaining working ability, who, before Slovenia changed employment regulations, had the right to financial compensation. The head of the Slovene delegation said that there were no open questions concerning social insurance between the two states. The agreement on social insurance between Croatia and Slovenia would be signed and ratified in December, Belopavlovic said. (hina) rm 111906 MET oct 96