ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - The current social reform is not a blow to the poor as basic welfare has been increased by 17 percent and the lowest pensions and salaries have not been touched, Labour and Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic
said on Wednesday. Last year, transfer payments for social benefits were increased by 3.5 billion kuna (approx. $422 million) and not one benefit was cancelled, Vidovic told a panel on social entitlements, adding there could be no talk about the government's insensitivity. Croatia inherited from the ex-Yugoslav federation an expensive, inefficient, outdated and sluggish social system, and in the past decade entitlements were granted extensively, which resulted in an unjust system which saw people with the same disability category get benefits ranging from 400 to 4,000 kuna, said Vidovic. Vlado Puljiz, a professor at the Zagreb Law School, said the war and transition had resulted i
ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - The current social reform is not a blow to
the poor as basic welfare has been increased by 17 percent and the
lowest pensions and salaries have not been touched, Labour and
Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic said on Wednesday.
Last year, transfer payments for social benefits were increased by
3.5 billion kuna (approx. $422 million) and not one benefit was
cancelled, Vidovic told a panel on social entitlements, adding
there could be no talk about the government's insensitivity.
Croatia inherited from the ex-Yugoslav federation an expensive,
inefficient, outdated and sluggish social system, and in the past
decade entitlements were granted extensively, which resulted in an
unjust system which saw people with the same disability category
get benefits ranging from 400 to 4,000 kuna, said Vidovic.
Vlado Puljiz, a professor at the Zagreb Law School, said the war and
transition had resulted in many unemployed and poor people, which
increased social costs to 34 percent of the Gross National
Product.
Puljiz believes war veterans' entitlements are too extensive and
that privileged pensions should be cut, but recommends being
careful in regards to family and health benefits, which he says
represent investing in the future and human potential.
According to Boris Kunst, the president of the Association of
Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia, the social policy should be
preceded by a clear economic policy as restrictions will not
establish social justice, but make citizens rebel.
The president of the Independent Croatian Trade Unions, Kresimir
Sever, said the social reform was unprepared and the cancellation
of allowance on the third and every next child would further
deteriorate Croatia's already poor demographic picture.
Minister Vidovic answered higher costs for child allowance were not
going to improve the demographic situation as there were no results
from past measures, which include a three-year maternity leave and
other benefits for child-bearing women.
(hina) ha sb