They also signed a cooperation agreement, telling reporters afterwards that their governments equally ignored labour rights, favouring employers and profit.
The unionists said governments referred to regulations in force in the European Union only as an excuse to really care for labour rights, and that playing by the rules imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank only pushed into deeper poverty those who lived off their work and earned their wages in manufacturing.
Croatian unionist Kresimir Doric said his union would oppose changes to labour legislation. "For us, it's often easier to reach an agreement with the employers than with the government," he said.
Serbian and Bosnian unionists said too they would oppose labour law changes in their respective countries, notably the cancellation of temporary work contracts and existing collective agreements.