- Published: 26.07.2018.
The goal is to unblock 150,000 people with new measures
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday the average monthly salary went up by HRK 710 during his cabinet's term, since October 2016, to over HRK 6,350 and that big steps forward had been made regarding employment and unemployment.
The average net salary in May 2018 was HRK 6,352, up 1.7% monthly and 3.4% annually, the national statistical office said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, Plenkovic also commented on the 8.8% unemployment rate in June, with 136,889 jobless. "That's one of the lowest figures, probably since 1990... which is more than evident during the tourism season, when numerous employers are looking for workers in different professions."
In preparing for the next season, the best solutions will have to be sought together with employers and unions to resolve that problem on the labour market and determine the quotas for foreign workers, Plenkovic said.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday the regional development budget would be increased by 22%, whereby the government was saying that it wanted balanced development in order to increase quality of life in areas which had fewer development options over the past 30 years, notably those devastated in the war.
Speaking at a cabinet session, Plenkovic said HRK 833.5 million was invested in regional development in 2017 and 2018, while HRK 434 million was planned for 2019.
The amount of HRK 1.3 billion in 2017-19 was six times more than in 2012-15, when HRK 207 million was invested in regional development, he said.
The cabinet was discussing draft bills on mountainous regions, islands, assisted areas, and housing in assisted areas.
Plenkovic said the Housing Act would cover 151 more local government units so that everyone wishing to obtain government aid for buying a home could do so in a cheaper, simpler and faster way.
He also recalled that in order to deal with the insolvency of citizens with blocked bank accounts, the government had proposed three bills which parliament enacted, on the write-off of physical persons' debts, on the seizure of cash assets, and amendments to the Bankruptcy Act.
"I think the government has acted very responsibly, but we are not forgetting that obligations should be serviced within deadlines and that these are emergency measures intended for emergency circumstances."
Text: Hina