Zagreb, 19 November 2009 – Zagreb main square Trg bana Josipa Jelačića saw around 1.500 members of four trade union confederations – Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (UATUC/SSSH), Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (ITUC/NHS), Croatian Trade Union Association (HUS) and Association of Workers’ Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH) – who gathered at the trade union rally/public discussion about the final draft of the Act on Labour. 

Trade union leaders Ana Knežević (UATUC/SSSH), Krešimir Sever (NHS), Ozren Matijašević (HUS) and Damir Jakuš (URSH) addressed the demonstrators and emphasized that the Government’s draft Act on Labour, which has to be amended due to the harmonization process of Croatian legislation with the acquis communautaire of the EU, has actually been done under the strong interest influence of the employers’ lobby.

UATUC President Ana Knežević said that during discussions and negotiations on the Labour Code the trade unions advocated that the fixed-term employment is used as an exception, and not as a rule, which is the case in Croatia during these last years, however Government betrayed the unions and stood on the side of employers. Krešimir Sever added that the Government confirmed its inclination to employers by nominating Mr. Đuro Popijač, until now general director of the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), as a new Minister of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship. Interestingly enough, he was appointed minister on 19 November, the very same day the Act on Labour was scheduled for adoption in the Parliament.

“Neither does this new draft Act on Labour include a penal provision for those employers who oppress workers not the ones preventing non-payment of wages”, said Ozren Matijašević and announced signing the petition for a referendum for cancellation of the so-called crisis-tax.

At the same time, in front of the building of the Croatian Parliament (St. Mark’s Square, which has been forbidden for public gatherings for several years now precisely because of numerous trade union protests which used to be held in front of the Government and Parliament building) trade union representatives distributed leaflets to MPs, before the beginning of the 15^th session of the Parliament, which was to discuss the Act on Labour, as the 11^th item on the agenda. Trade union leaflets warned against the negative consequences of adopting the Act on Labour in the proposed form. It would additionally decrease the existing level of workers’ rights, which is banned by the EU directive. However, only a few trade union representatives managed to get through to the Parliament building, after heavy negotiations and pleading with the police. They were allowed to cross the barricades only with presenting their IDs and leaving their personal data. Another small group of trade unionists who also tried to get to the St Mark’s square was stopped, though the students, general public and some tourists were allowed to pass by. Trade unionists were not welcome!

At the end of the meeting on the Main Square, the demonstrators went up the Radićeva street towards the forbidden St Mark’s Square, however they were stopped by the police cordon and metal barricades. There was no way through. Only the trade union leaders could pass the barricades to meet with the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr. Luka Bebić who promised to accept the trade union delegation.