Finance Minister Ivan Suker said on Thursday after talks with trade unions of public sector and government employees that the government had decided to amend Article 262 of the Labour Act which regulates the application of rights after the expiration of a collective agreement, after which unionists announced the possibility of a general strike.
It is time to introduce order, Suker told reporters outside the government's headquarters, adding that by amending Article 262, the government planned to limit the application of rights from a collective agreement after the expiry of the agreement to six months.
If the employers and unions fail to agree on a new collective agreement within six months, the rights of employees will be terminated and the employer can regulate them by employment rules.
The president of the Independent Federation of Trade Unions, Spomenka Avbersek, said unions must seriously respond to the government's plan to eliminate "the Bible of workers' rights", namely the collective agreements.
Unions must react and a general strike is the only realistic option, she said.
Explaining the government's decision, Suker said that HRK 1.4 billion was currently being set aside for employee transport and about HRK 6.3 billion a month for increments to the base pay, which is 26-27 per cent of the total funds for net salaries.
Suker said a HRK 1,250 holiday grant per employee would be paid, as the government was obliged to pay it under the current collective agreement.
The government will meet its obligations and not be brought in a position to have those funds demanded via lawsuits, he added.
Earlier today, the government invited union federation leaders to negotiations on Article 262 of the Labour Act, but they declined, demanding to previously hold talks with Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.
According to unofficial information, the talks could be held early next week.
