HOUSE OF COUNTIES ENDORSES RETIREMENT LAW

( Editorial: --> 6751 ) ZAGREB, Apr 14 (Hina)- The House of Counties of the Croatian National Parliament on Tuesday endorsed the final draft of a bill on pension insurance. Today the House also endorsed some other bills, before it adjourned until tomorrow. According to the bill, both men and women would be entitled to the full old age pension and reduced old age pension at the ages of 65 and 60 respectively, said Minister of Labour and Welfare Joso Skara while presenting the final bill. This is the difference between the first and the final draft of the bill, noted the Minister. He pointed out that the reform of the pension system rested on three points: mandatory pension insurance, individual mandatory pension insurance based on capitalised savings and voluntary insurance. The bill does not infringe on the rights of current pensioners. Minister Skara said the reform would be carried out gradually. In a debate that ensued, most MPs criticised the provision setting the mandatory age for a full pension at 65. Thus, Ivana Sucec- Trakoscanec (HDZ) suggested that women should qualify for full pension at the age of 60, as envisaged by the first draft. Due to a large number of proposed amendments, the bill on pension insurance will go into a third reading. Until then the Government will consider all the amendments, objections and suggestions, Minister Skara promised. (Hina) mm mr/mrb 142014 MET apr 98