RIJEKA, June 17 (Hina) - Trade unions in five Croatian shipyards on Tuesday forwarded an open letter to the government expressing support for the efforts of workers at the "Viktor Lenac" shipyard to keep their jobs and called on the
government to offer equal support and ensure normal working conditions in all shipyards.
RIJEKA, June 17 (Hina) - Trade unions in five Croatian shipyards on
Tuesday forwarded an open letter to the government expressing
support for the efforts of workers at the "Viktor Lenac" shipyard to
keep their jobs and called on the government to offer equal support
and ensure normal working conditions in all shipyards. #L#
Union commissioners of the Croatian Metal Workers' Union (SMH) at
"3. maj", "Uljanik", "Viktor Lenac" and "Brodotrogir" shipyards
and commissioners of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS)
at "Brodosplit" state that the delay in the granting of government
collateral constitutes a serious violation of the government's
decisions and smothers production.
"About 150,000 people depend on shipbuilding and we will not allow
the closing down of shipyards," the unions stressed.
In April the government adopted a decision to grant collateral
worth two billion kuna for five shipyards.
The Finance Ministry made the issuing of guarantees conditional on
a statement of guarantee binding the companies' managements to
guarantee the regular payment of obligations with their own
property. The managers have submitted their statements, however,
the guarantees have not been issued.
"Viktor Lenac" has been faced with a business crisis for about a
year. The shipyard needs about 43 million dollars to complete a
development cycle. The government has approved a loan of 17 million
kuna through the Croatian Development and Reconstruction Bank on
condition that the company's major shareholders ensure the rest.
Company officials today said that the shareholders, the government
and business banks were still negotiating on the continuation of
investments.
(hina) sp rml