T.portal reports that the ‘Pause, Restart’ program has been in force since March last year with the support of social partners, Valamar employees, and government measures. The new agreement was signed for one year and will be in effect from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
The ‘Pause, Restart’ program provides compensation in the amount of 60% of the regular income, i.e., a minimum of HRK 4,250 net for all Valamar employees who are on hold due to business restrictions during the pandemic and are relying on the current Government measures. Valamar pays regular full salaries to other employees.
The ‘Pause, Restart’ program applies equally to employees and management. Each month, depending on the employment opportunities, employees who will go to work and those who will receive compensation when waiting for work are determined.
“Government support measures have been key to preserving jobs in tourism until the 2021 season. Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to affect the impossibility of normal business in tourism. It is already very likely that the continuation of support measures will be important for April and May this year, given that higher turnover in tourism can be expected only from June. Also, the continuation of the program aims to preserve jobs until the 2022 season, when business normalization is expected,” the statement said.
“We are glad that our social partners have continued to support Valamar’s “Pause, Restart” program because we all have a common goal, which is certainly to preserve jobs. Valamar is working intensively on preparations for the opening of the season and in 2021 guarantees a minimum net income of HRK 5,000 as well as the continuation of the year-round income program for permanent seasonal workers. Given the planned opening of most Valamar hotels, resorts, and camping resorts by mid-May, seasonal employees at Valamar can expect between 3 and 6 months of work in the 2021 season. We all hope for the normalization of business as soon as possible and a more successful season than last year,” said Ines Damjanić Šturman, director of the human resources sector at Valamar Riviera.
“We are facing the 2021 tourist season, which, unfortunately, brings far more challenges than the previous 2020. STUH is aware that the tourist season in 2021 will not get results that provide liquidity to our companies while retaining the existing number of employees until next season, so I propose to the Government of the Republic of Croatia that in addition to aid in March and April, they should support tourism and hospitality in the 2022 autumn and winter tourist season,” said Eduard Andrić, President of the Trade Union of Tourism and Services of Croatia.
Last year, Valamar opened 24 hotels and resorts and all 15 camping resorts with more than 4,400 employees. In 2020, almost 300,000 guests stayed at Valamar, and no COVID-19 cases were recorded, which confirms that tourist facilities achieve a high level of safety for guests, the statement concluded.
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