INDEPENDENT UNIONS FEDERATION APPALLED BY VICE PREMIER'S STATEMENT

( Editorial: --> 3151 ) ZAGREB, June 23 (Hina) - The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) on Tuesday said it was appalled by a statement Vice Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak made at a press conference of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union last week. Mintas-Hodak told reporters "the government does not think it has any debt to pensioners, and if there is a debt, it is the debt of the working population which has not earmarked sufficient sums for contributions." The SSSH said in a statement issued today that "to accuse the working population of being indebted to pensioners is in poor taste to say the least, and if it comes from the Vice Premier, it is ultimately irresponsible and cynical". The SSSH asked: "Who are these workers who should be indebted to pensioners? Is it those employed in 200 and more legal institutions who work regularly, but are irregularly or not at all paid? Is it the more than half a million workers who lost their jobs in privatisation done 'the Croatian way'? What about employers who do not meet their obligations to workers and to the state, while simultaneously being enable to purchase new factories?" (hina) ha as 231649 MET jun 98