As of next year, the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) will become a partner supporting unemployed persons who decide to kickstart their businesses and in addition to self-employment, the HZZ will encourage employment through public works, according to Mrsic who said that the number of long-standing jobless people engaged in public works this year increased by 60%.

Within a national programme for reforms, which is to be launched with Croatia's entry into the EU on 1 July, the labour ministry and social partners will tailor new employment measures to suit the needs of young people, long-term jobless, and people with disabilities.

Union representative in the GSV, Kresimir Sever warned about an increasingly unfavourable ratio of employed persons (contributors) to pensioners. Currently for the 1.5 million employed there are 1.2 million pension beneficiaries and if we add t he latest figures showing 320,480 people out of work, this means that there are more jobless and pensioners than contributors to pension funds, the unionist said.

He said that during the crisis the country failed to be more focused on preserving existing jobs, hence, since 2008, some 130,000 jobs were shed in the real sector. Sever said that Croatia also lagged behind Europe in applying models of education alongside work.

Josip Budimir, the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) representative in the Council, said that employers wanted the HZZ to direct more funds into employment measures. Of two billion kuna which the HZZ spent last year, 1.5 billion went for benefits for those on the dole.

The HUP praises measures which the HZZ is now taking in pursing employment policy.