Trade union activists from all over Croatia, belonging to the ETUC-affiliated SSSH/UATUC, met in Zagreb on 24 October to agree future action to make higher wages a reality.
The meeting focused on demands to increase the minimum wage and wages in general, upcoming labour legislation changes and pension reform. There was a unanimous agreement that unions are ready to take all the steps needed: be it at the bargaining table or in the streets. It was followed by a trade union ‘Autumn School’ on the same issues.
Since the crisis, the average salary in Croatia has fallen from 43% to 37% of the EU level. Some 95% of new jobs are offered on fixed-term employment contracts – now covering almost one-quarter of workers. Croatia has one of the highest rates of precarious working in the EU.
The meeting expressed deep dissatisfaction with the direction of Croatia’s socio-economic development, reflecting economic growth but no social recovery. As a result of growing uncertainty at work, young people are tending to have fewer children, while studies show that children born into poor households are likely to remain in poverty. Unions are demanding amendments to the current regulations to protect workers and their families.
Unions will call on the Croatian government to create a legislative framework that will encourage collective bargaining. Social partners should have maximum flexibility in the arrangement of collective agreements. Only trade unions are present in the workplace and know the working conditions. The SSSH will also ask for a coordinated salary policy, amending the Minimum Wage Bill to increase the minimum wage to reach 50% of the average. It has sent a letter to the Croatian Employers’ Association suggesting a meeting to improve bipartite relations and boost collective bargaining.
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