ZAGREB, April 2, 2018 (Hina) – The leader of the Independent Road Trade Union Mijat Stanić commended the government’s model for the restructuring of the road sector, expressing satisfaction that at least 350 million kuna would be saved each year with decreased interest rates. “With regard to debt rescheduling, that has been done very well and above all expectations. If it’s true that we will save at least 350 million kuna a year through decreased interest rates, that is very welcome,” Stanić told Hina.
Finance Minister Zdravko Marić and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković said earlier that the government’s model to restructure the road sector makes it possible to keep motorways in Croatian hands and ensures long term sustainability of the road system.
Referring to the number employed in the Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC) motorway operator, Stanić said that currently he wasn’t sure how many workers were needed, but that the current road toll system requires an additional 150 workers during the summer tourist season in order to avoid any chaos on motorways. He added that, if a new toll payment system is introduced, it would be senseless to talk about the number of workers needed until a feasibility study is completed, which is expected at the end of the year.
Stanić believes the number of employees could be reduced if a contactless toll system is introduced. Then, he said, employers and the unions will have to discuss how to provide for those people in a socially acceptable manner and enable as many of them to remain in HAC or some other road sector company. “There are ways that that can be resolved and this isn’t a crisis situation for the union or the employer,” said Stanić.
