Government to Finance Work-Free Fridays

The ministry is calculating how much subsidising parts of salaries could harm the government budget.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said that the government is discussing the possibility of shortening the working week and subsidising the lower salaries in order to keep jobs. 

The proposal, Sanader said, is currently at the Economy Ministry, which will release its feasibility analysis next week, Slobodna Dalmacija reported.

The prime minister said that the ministry is calculating how much subsidising parts of salaries could harm the government budget.

President of the Croatian Employers’ Association, Damir Kustrak, said that the proposal of shortening the working week was drawn up by the association and the Alliance of Independent Croatian Unions and submitted it to the Economy Ministry.

Kustrak said Fridays would be work-free in export industries that are having problems with keeping workers’ jobs due to decreased orders.

According to Sanader, the government has decided to speed up the consensus on amendments to the Labour Act and vice-premier Damir Polancec would next Tuesday try to draw the stances of employers and unions about the act closer.