Zagreb, 25 February 2010 – After a meeting with the leaders of trade union confederations, Mr. Ivo Josipović, President of the Republic of Croatia, announced the establishment of a Council for social justice and the appointment of a commissioner for labour and workers' rights. He is open for the trade union confederations' proposals for the composition of that council, which will include also the representatives from a wider range. This Council should be a complement to the already established Economic Council, which was welcomed by a series of criticisms for being „a parallel Government“ and not including labour movement representatives.

„I want to gather the strongest employers in the Economic Councils, the ones who are a leverage of the ownership and capital on the Croatian market, and on the other side there will be a Council for Social Justice. In this way, both sides are very well represented, and I will represent the result of the synergy of the work of those two bodies“, said Josipović.

“Trade union rights are not a direct competence of the President of the State, however I promised to open new paths and forms of communication in the Croatian society”, added Josipović

UATUC President and the current coordinator of the trade union confederations Ana Knežević warned about the lacking and insufficient social dialogue, which is now needed more than ever, having in mind the economic crisis turning into a social one. This is supported by the fact that 75.000 workers work without salary. She reminded the President of the demands sent by the trade union confederations as early as in October 2009, demanding a new economic model, which implies a set of reforms – pension, healthcare, tax, new territorial structure, etc.

“We expect to discuss these proposals with the President and that in the future he will be a public advocator of the things we agree with him”, concluded Knežević.

Ivo Josipović reiterated that “there is no advanced economy if all participants in the process of work are not motivated. That is why workers’ rights and rights of all employees, as well as the social dialogue, are integral part of progress. Decent wages for decent work and decent pensions for older generations’ contribution to our society are integral parts of the justice to which I am committed.”