The press conference titled “Current Issues from HUP”, which aims to become a monthly regular gathering of the employers’ association and the media, had as its initial topics the positions of the Croatian Employers’ Association regarding the Minimum Wage Law and the conclusion of the Economic-Social Council on the representativeness of employers’ associations in the work of this body.
The conclusion of the Council of HUP members is that Croatia has a regulated minimum wage system, that active negotiations are taking place with sectoral unions regarding wage issues, and that collective agreements are being signed.
-We believe that administrative intervention in the regulated wage system in the form of a special minimum wage law could lead to negative consequences in the short term, such as increased wage costs, insolvency of companies, and reduced competitiveness, said Vesna Kulušić on behalf of HUP regarding the conclusions of the Council of Members.
Accordingly, Croatian employers believe that if the same law is enacted, layoffs of some employees, liquidation of certain companies, and relocation of companies to other countries in the region can be expected, as well as the possibility of canceling collective agreements with branch unions. -HUP advocates for a constant social dialogue among all partners in wage agreements, but based on research, analysis, and mutual agreements, rather than unilateral administrative decisions, it was stated.
The second topic at the first ’round table’ of journalists and employers attended by President Damir Kuštrak, Director Đuro Popijač, Jasna Kulušić, Tomislav Kovačević, and Bernard Jakelić, was the criteria for the representativeness of employers’ associations, and the conclusion was that HUP meets these criteria while the Confederation of Croatian Industry and Entrepreneurs does not meet the stated criteria. (Amir Kulenović )
