ZAGREB, June 17, 2019 - The Croatian economy's main problem at the moment is a labour shortage so quotas for foreigners should be urgently abolished, Chamber of Commerce (HGK) president Luka Burilović said on Monday.
"At nearly four percent, economic growth is finally approaching the rates we desired and expected, and interest rates are at the lowest levels. But the labour shortage is the main obstacle to the continuation of those positive trends. It's the issue of all issues at the moment," he said at an HGK Assembly meeting.
Burilović said the government had listened to the economic sector in the preparation of new regulations and that it was drawing up amendments to the law on foreigners that are expected to abolish quotas and facilitate the hiring of foreigners.
"It's a step in the right direction, but we must... put the draft of the new bill on foreigners to public consultation as soon as possible," he said.
The HGK Assembly adopted a report on the HGK's work in 2018 which shows that revenues totalled 208.1 million kuna, 11.5 million more than in 2017. Expenditures were lower than revenues by 19,800 kuna.
Revenues from EU projects increased by 14.8 million kuna to 33.1 million, and revenues from membership fees by 3.9 million kuna to 151.8 million.
It was announced that HGK will open offices in Vienna, Munich, Milan and Istanbul, and sell its building in Brussels.
More news about Croatian economy can be found in the Business section.
