The President of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HURS) Ozren Matijašević warned that unions will not accept poor solutions in the amendments to the Labor Law (ZOR), and if the Croatian Parliament accepts the amendments proposed by Minister of Labor Mirando Mrsić, negotiations will be conducted in the streets.
Matijašević stated at a press conference that the proposed amendments to regulate working hours open the possibility of a 60-hour work week, and there is also the possibility that overtime will no longer be paid as an extraordinary circumstance since the employer will determine the working hours regime over a longer period.
The President of HURS said that Mrsić, instead of engaging in genuine social dialogue in the Economic-Social Council, is announcing through the media what will be included in the new ZOR, while simultaneously not discussing with social partners. HURS has not received an official proposal for amendments to the ZOR to date, and discussions in meetings and in the media have only focused on theses.
Matijašević assessed that the amendments to the ZOR will not result in new employment as this is the fourth amendment since 2009, and since 2008, approximately 100,000 jobs have been lost, while the working-age population is 65,000 less.
He stated that the trend of disintegration of the Croatian economy continues, which is best reflected in the decline of industrial production, loss of jobs, especially in construction and manufacturing, and a trade deficit, particularly in food production.
