GOVT TO INCREASE SALARIES FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

( Editorial: --> 5952 ) ZAGREB, Dec 4 (Hina) - By distributing resources under the Croatian draft government budget for next year, an additional 285 million kuna (about US$ 45.9 million) have been set aside for government salaries, Finance Minister Borislav Skegro told reporters during a government session break. Along with these 285 million kuna, the salary resources amount to a total of 6.5 million kuna (about US$ 1.04 million), which enables an increase in salaries by 11 per cent next year, Skegro said, speaking about conclusions reached by the government at a closed session on Wednesday. The increases will be passed on to government workers in the areas of education, justice, science and state administration, but not in the Defence and Interior Ministries. According to Skegro, this money has been set aside by decreasing proposed expenses for business trips, representation and purchase of furniture, and the reorganisation of the Croatian army has reduced expenses for salaries of Defence Ministry employees. Skegro said that a continuation of the financing of the rights of budget users in areas of special government care (war-ravaged areas) had been proposed at Wednesday's government session, which means that they would not be deprived of their legal rights concerning salaries. (hina) lm jn 041748 MET dec 97