Workers in Croatia have the longest working week in the EU, data from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions “Evrofond” show.
The Association of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia indicates that this does not include unpaid overtime, of which there is an alarming amount.
Sunčica Brnardić from the Federation of Trade Unions states that the Labor Law stipulates that full-time work is 40 hours per week, unless otherwise agreed.
“This possibility of different contracting, which in principle benefits the workers because they keep the same salary level, is used too little,” Brnardic said.
She points out that there is a strong increase in wages and productivity in Croatia, but that this is not accompanied by an increase in competitiveness in improving working conditions, in which Croatia strongly lags behind other EU members.
Brnardić believes that shortening working hours can increase work efficiency, increase worker satisfaction and reduce the rate of sick leave, but that employers do not recognize the shortened work week as an important means of work organization and attracting and retaining workers.
