At a news conference earlier today, the trade union requested the resignation of Minister Branko Vukelic and the State Secretary in that ministry, Vladimir Vrankovic, over the alarming situation in this sector.
The ministry said in a press release that it and the government fully supported social dialogue as part of the Economic and Social Council and that, aware of the difficult situation in the textile and leather industries, it had organised a series of meetings this year with said industries' representatives to consider the situation. The ministry added a new meeting would be held before the national budget for 2005 was adopted.