Commenting on a disagreement between employers and unions as to whether firing workers due to business conditions was allowed, Labour Minister Josip Aladrovic said on Tuesday that employers who apply for the latest government aid measures will not be permitted to dismiss their workers.

There are some disagreements that we will iron out over the next few days, before the next meeting of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) Steering Council, when a decision is expected to be adopted on activating the latest measures, Aladrovic said at a press conference at which the government presented redesigned measures to help the economy in the coronavirus crisis.

Aladrovic underlined that the measures can be consumed only by employers who conduct their business activities, removing any possibility of employers receiving support while leaving workers at home.

He confirmed that there had been cases where an employer had fired workers even though they had applied for support. However, in those cases the government requested that the employer refunds any money they were not eligible for. “More than HRK 100 million has been refunded to HZZ in that way,” he said.