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ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - The EIZ Online Vacancy Index (OVI) for February shows continued positive trends on the Croatian labour market as labour demand increased by 72% from February 2021, the Zagreb Institute of Economics (EIZ) said on Wednesday. "Positive movements on the labor market, which have been recorded since mid-2021, continue. According to OVI index for February 2022, labor demand is 72% higher than in February 2021, and 41 and 35% higher than in February 2020 and 2019 respectively," the EIZ said on its website. The most sought-after occupations in February this year were salespersons, cooks, waiters, warehouse workers…

ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - Engineers' pay should be increased by 30 to 50 percent, and in addition to the already imported 30,000 foreign workers, the Croatian construction sector still lacks 20,000 workers, an event marking Croatian Engineers Day was told in Zagreb on Wednesday. This year's Engineers Day was devoted to long-term plans to make the engineering profession more competitive on both the domestic and global markets. The focus was on untapped national resources and on what the domestic STEM industry can do to put them in the service of sustainable development. Zdravko Jurčec, head of the Croatian Engineering Association, which organised…

ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - The Croatian National Bank (HNB) on Wednesday intervened in the foreign exchange market to preserve the kuna exchange rate, selling €171 million to commercial banks at an average exchange rate of HRK 7.562505 for one euro, the HNB said in a brief statement. This was the central bank's first foreign exchange intervention since 16 June 2021. The kuna strengthened against the euro by a marginal 0.0001 per cent from Tuesday. Today's middle exchange rate, effective from Thursday, is 7.560528 kuna for one euro. The Croatian financial system is currently enjoying record liquidity of about HRK 80 billion. For…

ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - Party groups in parliament on Wednesday unanimously condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine, but part of them warned that Croatia's internal affairs must not be neglected because of the war in Ukraine. Russia's attack on Ukraine is not an argument against the government's fall but an argument in favour of the government's fall, the war cannot be used as a fig leaf to cover up crime, said Nino Raspudić (Bridge), recalling the problems the government has with former minister Darko Horvat and incumbent minister Josip Aladrović. PM called on to replace ministers the public no…

ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivan Celjak on Wednesday presented local construction businesses and entrepreneurs with the planned dynamics of reconstruction in the  earthquake-affected areas. The programme encompasses the reconstruction of buildings in health, education, culture, road infrastructure and the like, so that all the projects can be implemented as planned. The county submitted 68 projects to the solidarity fund valued at HRK 698.5 million. They include 20 projects for healthcare, 11 for education, 9 for culture and 12 for road infrastructure projects. Several projects were highlighted such as the Sisak General Hospital, the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Popovača, the Sisak,…

ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - Croatia cares for stability and security in its immediate environment, promoting peace and good-neighbourly relations with the countries in southeastern Europe on their way to integration into the European Union and NATO, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in the Croatian Parliament on Wednesday.  "We want everyone to refrain from any incidents, any inflammatory rhetoric or anything that might destabilise the otherwise tense situation in at least three countries in our neighbourhood. We can't have two hotspots in Europe at the same time. The chaos that we now have is enough," the prime minister said in…

ZAGREB, 2 March 2022 - If Europe had had a stronger role, maybe the war in Ukraine would not have happened, President Zoran Milanović said on Wednesday, expressing support for Ukrainians who are defending themselves against the Russian invasion. "I feel terribly sorry this has happened. One cannot say anything else but express support for a successful defence," Milanović told reporters during a visit to Pakrac, where he attended an event commemorating the 31st anniversary of the start of the Homeland War in the area of that western Slavonian town. "It is practically impossible to take a big city without completely…

March the 4th, 2022 - Cafe road Split - A look at the authentic cafes in the city loved by Split locals. As you already may know, drinking coffee is a very special ritual in Croatia and even more in the Dalmatia region. Going to a cafe to have a cup of coffee is an important part of a day in Dalmatia, and we use this ritual to read the news, meet friends, have meetings, and much more than that. If the time spent drinking coffee could be measured, we would probably be at the very top. We drink coffee…

March 2, 2022 - The first Croatian Cup semifinal match was played tonight at Poljud Stadium in Split between Hajduk and Gorica, with Hajduk winning 2:1 for a spot in the final on May 26 at Poljud! Hajduk was a big favorite in the semifinal match against Gorica, which has just suffered five Championship defeats. Hajduk suffered a heavy 3:1 loss to Rijeka in the Croatian First League derby on Saturday. Since the final is too being played at Poljud, Hajduk fans expected a victory against Gorica and a spot in the final.  Gorica has thus far led head-to-head, with eight wins…

March 2, 2022 - Wednesdays normally do not have a particular meaning but for Catholics, today means the start of Lent, which is a time for mourning, renunciation, and penance. Food is light, “sacrifices” are made, and forty days until Easter has begun. A look into what Slavonians eat during Lent. If February in Croatia is known as a month of handful feast food, the month of this year’s March represents “sacrifices” Catholics are willing to take to “cleanse” themselves before Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those sacrifices usually involve food - no meat, sweet desserts, and other types…