CRO SABOR PASSES LAW ON SALARIES OF STATE OFFICIALS

ZAGREB, Feb 24 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives on Thursday passed a law on salaries of state officials. The Lower House failed to adopt the Croatian Government's amendment in line with which salaries of state officials would amount to 85 percent of their average wage in 1999. This means that in accordance with the new law, salaries of state officials will be formed on the basis of their entire average wage in 1999. For example, the wage of the President of the Republic would amount to DM5,300, the speaker of the parliament, the Prime Minister, and the president of the Constitutional Court would receive DM4,550, minister's wage would amount to DM3,750, while MPs would receive DM3,175. Basic wage amounts to DM759, which is the average salary in Croatia. So far, the wage of the President of the Republic amounted to DM8,750, the speaker of the parliament and Prime Minister were receiving DM6,250, MPs about DM4,125, while the presidents of the Constitutional and the Supreme Courts were receiving DM5,250. On behalf of the Croatian Government, Croatian First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic adopted the amendment of the committee for the constitution, rule book, and political system, that the basic wage be the average wage in 1999, and not 85 percent of the average wage, which the Government proposed on Wednesday. (hina) it mm