The ‘HUP for HUP’ Initiative Has Launched a Wave of Changes

Dissatisfied with the previous way of working of the Croatian Employers’ Association, an activist movement initiated the Initiative for a bolder, more inclusive, and fairer HUP – ‘HUP for HUP’. In a short time, it has triggered a wave of changes that have manifested in the departure of the HUP president and director, and it is gaining increasing influence in active bodies such as the Assembly.

Around forty activists organized more than two hundred meetings and consultations with HUP members from sector associations and groups from various fields, and their positions have been incorporated into the Initiative’s work program, which is led not by an individual, but by a program team. This team includes the presidents of sector associations and regional offices: Boris Drilo, Mihael Furjan, Igor Škrgatić, Zdravko Plazonić, Denis Sušac, Mislav Balković, Pavo Ćorluka, Boris Trupčević, Ognjen Bagatin, Jerko Jakšić,​ Ivan Ante Nikolić,​ Hrvoje Balen,​ Tomislav Makar,​ Manuela Šola,​ Hrvoje Soldan,​ Mario Sekulić,​ Petar Šimić,​ John M. Gašparac i Mira Hajdić.

The Initiative’s program outlines some key changes, such as strengthening the role of the Assembly as the main electoral body that directly elects members of the executive and supervisory boards and confirms members of the HUP Council. The Assembly will henceforth be responsible for approving financial and program reports and determining the membership fee. The Council of Members will continue to exist, and in it, sector associations will align their positions so that HUP can present a unified stance to the Government and other bodies, rather than conflicting interests. The Executive Board will be the operational team that designs the implementation frameworks for the Association’s fundamental policies. The previous exclusive presence of the HUP president will be complemented by a team of two vice presidents from among the members of the Executive Board.

At last week’s meeting of the Council of Members, Petar Šimić, owner of Primaco, was appointed to the Executive Board as a representative of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

– The idea is to give more authority to bodies, i.e., teams, and less to individuals in this reform. At the last assembly, five candidates from the Initiative entered the Council of Members, which was voted in by a two-thirds majority. This is a good indicator of the support that the Initiative has received – says Šimić.

In a few days, ‘HUP for HUP’ will also present its candidates for the future president of HUP, among whom two names have already stood out – Boris Drilo and Mihael Furjan.

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