We are looking to prevent an increase in prices for those providing social services to the most vulnerable groups

Labour and Social Policy Minister Josip Aladrović said on Monday that funds would have to be found in the state budget to cover the costs of increased energy prices, announcing reallocation of funds among government departments.

Economy Minister Tomislav Ćorić said earlier today that unfavourable prices of energy products would be compensated for budget users from the budget, while Aladrović explained that they were aware of the budget restrictions.

"The situation with the budget is very complicated and ministers will have to find ways to make savings and transfer the funds saved to cover the cost of the government intervention to help the business sector," Aladrović said after a session of the Economic and Social Council (GSV).

He noted that it was too early to speak about a budget revision.

Aladrović said his ministry was looking for a way to prevent an increase in prices for those providing social services to the most vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

As for changes to the Labour Act, Aladrović said that the process did not proceed at the desired pace but that enough time remained until August to implement the planned changes.

Speaking of a murder of a woman in Rijeka on Sunday and protection of women, the minister said that the case was not about domestic violence but was a clear case of femicide.

"Judging by media reports, the perpetrator is a mentally unstable person. Let us wait for the police to do their job and establish the actual cause," he said, noting that the government was doing its best to help reduce the number of such cases as much as possible.

Today's GSV session discussed different topics, from the restitution of union property to internationalisation of education, a topic insisted on by the HUP association of employers, as well as the European Regional and Development Fund and the European Social Fund (ESF+) for the period 2021-2027, and the Whistleblower Protection Act.

HUP president Mihael Furjan underlined the importance of internationalising higher education, noting that greater internationalisation would help secure sufficient labour in the future.

Also discussed were problems that prevent a larger number of foreign students from studying in Croatia - from health insurance to visas and administrative obstacles.

As for energy products, Furjan said that employers were in principle against the administrative freezing of prices, except in cases of monopoly, and that they expected the government to present a concrete compensation plan and for Croatia to work in the long run on its own sustainable energy sources.

NHS union leader Krešimir Sever said that he had nothing against HUP's proposals but that he did not share its optimism as he did not believe that internationalisation would result in young foreigners staying in Croatia after they graduate because the country does not offer enough incentives to stay.

Text: Hina

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