Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed a provision of the final bill on foreign nationals whereby the Sabor would, at the proposal of the government, define the principles to implement a comprehensive immigration policy for a period of at least five years.

That underscores how the government and Sabor manage the process of migrations, MP Davor Ivo Stier said, referring to the provision which notes that based on those principles and on the current demographic and economic situation, the government also will each year define the number and conditions for citizens from third countries to immigrate to Croatia.

MP Anka Mrak Taritas (Glas) however interpreted the provision differently. We have decided that there will not be any quotas to employ foreigners yet here the government will define immigration conditions each year, she said.

That is by no means a formal quota. Employers will decide for themselves who to employ, state-secretary in the Interior Ministry, Zarko Katic said. Presenting the final draft bill on foreigners Katic explained that employers will be obliged to submit a request to hire foreigners after they have conducted a test of the labour market with the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) to see if anyone is unemployed in that particular field.

Price of labour will not fall

Katic denied the claims that the new model could lead to lower prices for labour in Croatia.

He explained that an employer will first have to seek a local employee, offer him a defined wage and conditions and if the worker agrees, they need to be employed and in that case the employer cannot seek a foreign worker for a lower wage.

MP Katarina Peovic (Workers’ Front) commented that the unions did not assess the abolishment of quotas for foreign workers and the liberalisation of importing workers positively saying that this is favouring entrepreneurs who do not wish to pay workers more.

MP and former tourism minister, Gari Capelli (HDZ) underlined that had it not been for foreign workers, last year’s record tourism season would not have been possible.

Katic noted that the majority of foreigners coming to Croatia come to find work. Last year more than 72,000 foreign citizens did so and in the past four years the number of people migrating to Croatia for work has increased, he added.

Croatia does not have a sufficient immigration of tradesmen or other self-employed people. We do not have families immigrating to Croatia who could boost life in rural areas, Katic said. He added that both the economy and society could benefit from immigration. Croatia has a decreasing population, partially due to fewer births but also due to increasing emigration.