Zagreb Holding on Wednesday dismissed accusations that lay-off of some of protected class employees is planned in the redundancy programme, saying that the restructuring plan is being carried out in line with the law and that the management does not intend to sack such categories of workers.

SDP councillor Renato Petek said on his Facebook page that the plan for lay-offs in Zagreb Holding was shameful and scandalous, noting that the management “intends to lay off pregnant women, new mothers and people parenting children with disabilities”.

The management responded that these were incorrect and incomplete interpretations of managing surplus workers in the Zagreb Holding Group.

“We want to emphasise that the process of the overhaul is being conducted in line with the Labour Act, and the management’s intention is not to lay off people from protected groups because that would contrary to the basic principles and values of the Holding management and assembly, and according to the Labour Act it is not possible either,” the press release said.

This means that pregnant women, as well as workers on maternal, parental or adoption leave or those working half-time to care for a child with disabilities, as well as persons from other protected social categories, such as people with disabilities, will not and cannot be laid off, Zagreb Holding said.

They explain that consent has been requested from trade unions in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Act for the inclusion in the redundancy programme because those categories of workers also work in administration, which is included in the restructuring process. That is why they have to be mentioned in the document as legally protected groups and not for the termination of the employment contract.

Consultations on the surplus labour are being held in compliance with the Labour Act, the press release said.