PRIME MINISTER MATESA TALKS WITH UNION LEADERS

( Editorial: --> 1762 ) ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa talked on Friday with leaders of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) about the most important current economic and social issues in the country. The Prime Minister totally agreed with unions that the non-payment of wages to workers was "absolutely unacceptable" and promised that the Government would soon find mechanisms to solve this problem. The Government's priorities in social welfare continue to be displaced people, defenders and pensioners, Matesa said. The Government will definitely carry out pension reform because the current system cannot survive, the Prime Minister said. SSSH president Davor Juric repeated the main demands of the largest union headquarters - regular payment of wages, an increase in the base of the lowest wage level to 1500 kuna (about US$236) and tax relief for wages. If the demands fail to be met by 25 February, Juric announced new industrial action, including strikes. (Hina) mm mb 131915 MET feb 98