The government will next week adopt a bill on small businesses with the aim of setting a legislative framework to stimulate the development of SMEs and facilitate their positioning on the market, offer them greater security and help them in doing business, Enterprise Minister Gordan Maras told a press conference on Wednesday.
According to the new law, SMEs would no longer be required to offer their own property as a guarantee. According to the current law a foreclosure could be imposed on a business owner's total assets whereas with the new law foreclosure would not be possible on the residence in which the business owner lives or the property where the core business is conducted.
Until now business owners could not transfer ownership of the business during their life time. With the new law owners will be allowed to transfer their business to an immediate family member when the owner goes into retirement.
SME owners will now be eligible for unemployment and other benefits relating to labour relations which until now has not been the case.
Another change relates to membership fees for the Chamber of Trades and Crafts which will in future be combined into one fee and a seasonal fee for seasonal trades. The Chamber too would be obliged to submit an annual report of its activities to the Sabor.
The law also regulates work from home which in particular relates to pensioners who wish to continue to work in some casual activity and who will be allowed to earn up to HRK 78,630 annually, which should reduce the grey economy.
