Representatives of the Croatian Trade Union Association (HUS) and the INA Trade Union (Sindikata INAŠ-a) met today with the Minister of Economy Ivan Vrdoljak regarding media announcements that the state might establish a new oil company, HUS reported.
Union representatives expressed concern for the sustainability of INA, and thus the job security of 8,500 employees, stating that all core activities of INA are currently endangered.
INA is under-invested, which is why all our activities are at risk, especially the gas stations that require modernization, said Maja Rilović, president of the INA Trade Union, to Hina.
Workers are also worried about the possible closure of the Sisak Oil Refinery, as insufficient investment is being made in its renewal, as well as due to MOL’s attempts to separate retail from INA through its management rights, thereby significantly reducing the rights of retail workers and decreasing the total number of employees at INA, Rilović said.
However, the most questions arise regarding announcements that the state might establish a new oil company, which could jeopardize exploration and production at INA, and thus the job security in those sectors. Rilović admits that a new company could even be beneficial for employees in the Croatian oil industry, as they might find better jobs there, but there are too many uncertainties and still undefined issues surrounding this matter.
The meeting concluded that Vrdoljak would respond in writing to these uncertainties, especially regarding the future of INA, after receiving the necessary information from INA’s Management. HUS announced that they would subsequently inform INA workers and the public about this.
