HOUSE HEARS REPORT ON PENSIONS, "FIREFIGHTING" MEASURES CRITICISED

CRITICISED ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - The House of Representatives today continued a session that began on May 2. The House first added two items to the agenda - a motion for a vote of confidence in Government members and draft amendments to the Amnesty Act. The House then heard reports on the situation in the pension fund by Fund Director Stjepan Brcic and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara. Skara warned about the negative influence of the unfavourable demographic and economic trends, particularly the decreasing employees/retirees ratio (1,000,000 employees versus 850,000 retirees) He spoke of the measures the Government planned to implement to improve the position of retirees. Brcic said that the impending reorganisation of the pension system could bring about a five-percent increase in pension from June 1 to December 31 and a thirty-percent increase until the end of 1996. The debate was opened by SDP (Social Democratic Party) members Ivica Racan and Ivan Matija, who described the Skara's report as "good debate material" but criticised "firefighting" measures contained in it. The pair was seconded by HND (Croatian Independent Democrats) member Petar Kriste, who pressed the Government to stick to the law - which meant settling outstanding debts to the Pension Fund and paying pension arrears. (hina) jn as 231605 MET may 95