What Employers, HGK, HOK, and Unions Say About the Government’s Economic Guidelines

While members of the Croatian Parliament criticize the selection of certain ministers and demand that the appointee Tihomir Orešković distance himself from them, the economic guidelines of the new government have been commented on by HGK, HUP, and the unions.

– The new Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković has shown a modern and concrete approach, a vision, and has focused  on economic issues that are the question of all questions for Croatia, says the president of HGK Luka Burilović.

Burilović believes that public administration must finally implement structural reforms and adapt to those who are the bearers of economic development. 

– The Croatian Chamber of Commerce has shown by its own example that a lot can be done in a short time. Public administration must do the same, for the benefit of the economy and the entire society.

– The guidelines of the new government finally set the ultimate goals for the recovery of the national economy and the entire society. These are measures and steps of the new government that undoubtedly open up opportunities for faster and sustainable development of the Croatian economy and have our full support, especially because the focus is primarily on economic growth and the increase of living standards, followed by serious budget consolidation and, in this context, stopping the dynamic growth of public debt, as well as the efficiency of the public sector, improving the business environment and competitiveness.

When it comes to investments in energy and infrastructure, the head of HGK believes these must be investments that achieve optimal results and avoid “failed investments.” Above all, he adds, it is essential to encourage private sector investment in productions that increase employment and exports and to improve the absorption capacity for using EU funds, as EU funds are becoming almost the only source of financing for public investments and are more necessary than ever.

The Croatian Employers’ Association supports the presented goals. Improving economic and social conditions and increasing the standard of living are undeniably in the interest of all Croatian citizens, says  Davor Majetić.

– In the planned improvements of economic results and strengthening competitiveness, this government, as well as previous governments, the Croatian Employers’ Association is ready to be a partner and give it full support in implementing all activities that will lead to the creation of a more favorable and stimulating entrepreneurial and investment climate. We remain a constructive social partner, but also a critic of those moves by the state administration that do not lead to the realization of the mentioned goals.

Majetić reminds that social dialogue is the most important indicator of the level of democracy in society and expects the new government to raise dialogue and cooperation with employers and unions to an even higher level.

Evaluating the work program of the new government, the president of HOK Dragutin Ranogajec said that he believes they will persist in exactly three things that Orešković highlighted – economic growth, competitiveness, and a better standard of living. Three important things, economic growth, creating competitiveness, and a better standard of living are what we all want, and on behalf of the Croatian Crafts Chamber and all craftsmen, I say that we will do everything to help it so that it will be better for us too, said Ranogajec.

– I believe they will persist in these things because without economic growth, without a favorable climate for the economy as a whole, there will be no third essential thing, which is that it will be better for all of us. Also, competitiveness is something we cannot do without; I have often spoken about this and asked to create the competitiveness of our companies, our crafts together with the state so that we can take over markets and not lose them here in Croatia.

Union leaders assessed on Friday that the direction of the new government will be visible through its first moves, so its members need to be given time to show what they know and can do, and they expect that they will likely follow “well-trodden paths.”