ZAGREB, October 3, 2018 – Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) lawmaker Tulio Demetlika on Wednesday called on the government to amend the Law on Emergency Administration in Companies of Systemic Significance in the Republic of Croatia under a fast track procedure so that it could be applied to the Pula-based Uljanik shipyard and Rijeka’s 3. Maj.
“The situation at Uljanik and 3 Maj is worsening from day to day and workers wonder if they will receive their wage as envisaged by the collective agreement,” the MP said.
He accused the government of procrastinating efforts to find possible solutions. “The lack of interest and ignorance of this government will put more than 4,000 jobs at risk,” Demetlika said.
He called for amending the Law on Emergency Administration in Companies of Systemic Significance, dubbed Lex Agrokor, so that the provision saying that companies with 5,000 and more employees are deemed companies of systemic importance could be changed to make it possible for the two shipyards to be covered by this law.
Uljanik unionists and workers’ representatives are expected in Zagreb on Wednesday afternoon for talks with the government on those issues.
On Tuesday, Economy Minister Darko Horvat held talks with workers, unionists and management of the two shipyards in Rijeka. On that occasion he said that the latest version of the overhaul plan for the Uljanik Group envisages for the first time the possibility of the 3. Maj shipyard to be divested from the Group and become an independent company again.
As for the payment of salaries, Horvat admitted that it was still not clear how funds would be secured for that purpose.
Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said on Wednesday that the problem of payment of salaries for September was not money but finding a legal way to do it. “It is about whether this is possible and in line with rules and procedures. We have said that several times. Today we are discussing the September wages, but what will change before wages for October are due?” Marić said in response to questions from the press before a meeting of the inner cabinet on Wednesday morning.
