Business

ZAGREB, March 25, 2020 - The situation concerning the supply chains is stable and shops are well supplied with goods, Agriculture Minister Marija Vučković said in an interview with Croatian Radio on Wednesday morning. "The Ministry has started maintaining daily records of the most important farm products, so that we have daily updated figures on stocks and can see if there are any shortages in products and raw materials and the situation with the labour force," Vučković said. She could not specify whether certain products would become unavailable at some point. "Nevertheless, the situation is stable. The supply chains are…

ZAGREB, March 25, 2020 - The Tax Administration received about 2,000 applications for tax deferral on the day the government put this measure in place, and about 14,000 businesses applied to the Labour and Pension System Ministry for financing of the minimum wage for 71,000 workers, Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said on Tuesday evening. The two measures, prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, will require at least HRK 5 billion (€65m) for the next three months and this amount was not provided for in the present budget. "But we will secure it," Marić said in an interview with the public broadcaster…

ZAGREB, March 24, 2020 - The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) on Tuesday said that the business sector affected by the coronavirus epidemic urged the government to exempt them from paying all their contributions rather than allowing for deferred payment. "We welcome the government's first package of measures to support the economy," HGK president Luka Burilović said, adding that the Chamber had actively participated in the preparation of that rescue package. In line with the demands of our members the Chamber of Commerce recommends that the second set of measures exempts those companies faced…

ZAGREB, March 24, 2020 - The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) road hauliers' association warned on Monday that the uneven treatment of foreign and domestic hauliers in implementing measures against the spread of coronavirus would result in the collapse of supply. "According to information from the ground, more than 60% of domestic hauliers are either in self-isolation or quarantine, which puts an enormous strain on our companies. If transport collapses, the shelves in the shops will remain empty and the consequences will soon be felt by the entire economic sector," HGK vice-president Mirjana Čagalj said. Road hauliers say that when…

ZAGREB, March 23, 2020 - The Croatian Employers Association (HUP) has called for a write-off of all dues and for access to liquid assets through various institutions for employers affected by the coronavirus crisis. HUP director Davor Majetić said in a statement that in negotiations it had been conducting lately HUP wanted to achieve several goals. The first goal is for all employers affected by movement restrictions to get nonrepayable grants for the payment of wages and for their operations. HUP wants government bodies at all levels not to send them any bills and to write off all employers' dues…

ZAGREB, March 23, 2020 - The Croatian Chamber of Agriculture (HPK) on Monday called on the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Protection Authority to allow agricultural producers to sell their produce at farmers' markets. In a letter to the two institutions, the HPK said that the latest decision to close down farmers' markets was "an attack on domestic producers and family farms because they are being prevented from selling domestic produce, for which we know where it comes from and that there is no presence of the virus." On the other hand, "goods for which we do not…

ZAGREB, March 22, 2020 - The building housing Hina's offices in central Zagreb was severely damaged in the earthquake on Sunday, but the agency will continue to provide all its services to its clients round the clock. All stories relating to the coronavirus outbreak in Croatia are available free of charge on Hina's website (https://www.hina.hr/) and the dedicated page on health (https://zdravlje.hina.hr/). Most of the stories on the earthquake that struck Zagreb and surrounding areas on Sunday morning are also available for free. The agency's reporters, editors, photojournalists, translators, language subeditors, IT specialists and other staff are doing all they…

ZAGREB, March 23, 2020 - Economy Minister Darko Horvat said on Monday that the coronavirus infection and Sunday's quake had not brought the Croatian economy to a halt, and pointed out the resilience of the industry and the construction sector as well as the normal functioning of supply chains. The economy has not ceased to function, some industrial branches have to step up their production, for instance food and protective equipment producing businesses, Horvat told the Croatian Television on Monday morning. The construction and the provision of supplies are functioning without any major hitch, he said. The minister said that…

The current coronavirus crisis is continuing to tighten its grip on the global economy and while many Croatian companies scramble for access (or basic understanding) of the recently introduced government measures, Podravka is rewarding its staff. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of March, 2020, the management of the internationally recognised Croatian brand Podravka has made the praiseworthy decision to pay a one-off reward in the amount of 1,000 kuna net as a sign of gratitude to Podravka's employees who have been working extremely hard throughout March this year, given the increased orders and strain related to the still…

ZAGREB, March 22, 2020 - Hourly labour cost in Croatia increased in Q4 of 2019 much less than in the quarter before, reflecting a significantly weaker growth in wage costs, a report by the European statistical office has shown. In the 27-member European Union, calendar adjusted hourly labour costs grew by 2.7% on the year in Q4 2019. In Q3 they rose by 2.9%. Costs for wages increased by 2.7%, and costs for social contributions by 2.6%. In the EU, labour costs per hour grew the most in Q4 in the industry and construction sectors, by 2.7%. In the services…