Labor Day in Croatia: The fight for better working conditions continues
The International Labor Day, May 1, will be celebrated on Thursday across Croatia as a reminder of the struggle for the recognition of the fundamental rights of workers and their dignified life – the struggle that is still ongoing, and traditionally will be a sign of citizens with beans and appropriate programs.
The International Labor Day was related to strike movements and a historic protest from Chicago in 1886 when about 40,000 people demanded recognition of their fundamental rights and dignity at a time when adults and children worked for small wages each in difficult conditions.
The first May, over time, was adopted in many countries as a national holiday, and the Catholic Church recognized his message of social righteousness and connected him with the celebration of St. Joseph Radnik.
The fight for better working conditions continues in Croatia
How we used to celebrate the Labor Day |
An eight -hour work day that managed to win over the world around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and today is a standard for most professions, but the struggle for more fair working conditions continues almost 140 years later.
The covida-19 pandemic has popularized work from home that often brings workers a better balance between business and private life, and worldwide working week models are tested.
In Croatia, union activities are often focused on the media, and in order to fight better rights, all doctors and health care workers, carriers, judges and judicial officials, educators and the most renovated enlighteners are protesting and/or strikes.
In recent years, controversy has also been conducted around a large number of foreign workers, for which some claim to lower the price of work for domestic.
According to the Ministry of the Interior (MUP), from the beginning of 2025 to the end of March, a total of 53,662 licenses were issued to stay and work of foreigners, of which in the largest number in construction activities – 17,343, tourism and catering – 15,870, industries – 7185, traffic and connection – 4416 and trade – 2779.
The largest number of permits was issued to Nepal nationals – more than 12,000, BiH – more than 9000 and Philippines – almost 6000, followed by Serbia and India.
Throughout 2024. A total of 206,529 permits were issued.
Zagreb: One of the most beloved places to celebrate Labor Day is Jarun |
Employment and wages grow, the least employed in Lika-Senj
In Croatia, employment is growing, so in April it has reached a figure of 1.71 million, which has been 300,000 more employees since the beginning of 2016, the prime minister recently reported, while the unemployed is only 83,000.
The average monthly net salary for February this year was 1416 euros, which is 9.5 percent realistically, and nominally by 13.5 percent more than in the same month last year, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
However, the medial wage was 1175 euros, which means that half of the employees had fewer and half more than that amount.
The highest average monthly salary was paid in pharmacy – 3624 euros, and the lowest in clothing production, 920 euros.
According to March data, 46.36 percent of employees make women, and in relation to the same month of previous year, the number of women employed by 2.2 percent increased.
In March, the number of employees in legal entities was 1,472,082, of which 694,247 were women.
There were 209,734 employees in the crafts and free professions, of which 88,075 were women, while in the category of employed farmers, there were 17,610 of them, 5497 women.
The registered unemployment rate in March was 5.1 percent and for women 5.8 percent.
In March, the most employees were in the City of Zagreb – 381,178, which accounts for 22.4 percent of the total number of employees in the Republic of Croatia.
The least employees were in Lika -Senj County – 17,455, which is only one percent of the total number of employees. It is similar to the ratio for women’s employment.
The number of employees exceeding 100,000 also have Split-Dalmatia, Zagreb, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Osijek-Baranja counties.
How we used to celebrate the Labor Day |
Traditional but also union activities
First-day celebrations in cities throughout Croatia will traditionally take a sign of citizens’ socializing with beans and a suitable cultural and artistic program.
In addition, three unions of education and science have announced that in Maksimir, the first May will mark the sharing invitations for the protest, which he will organize on May 9 in Zagreb’s Ban Josip Jelacic Square.
The Association of Independent Unions of Croatia (SSSH) will be held by Labor Day at the Zagreb Factory, where they will refer to significant industrial actions and collective negotiations in the past year, send messages, demands and expectations to employers and government and award awards.
(Hina) XMHUD YLN
