Minister Aladrović and Minister Bedeković meet with Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit

Zagreb, 10 January 2020 - Josip Aladrović, Minister of Labour and Pension System, and Vesna Bedeković, Minister of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Affairs, today had a bilateral meeting with the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit at the National and University Library. In addition to bilateral issues, they discussed the challenges of the modern labour market and well-being at work.

Minister Aladrović emphasized that the EU labour markets are facing shortage of skilled labour, and therefore one of the priorities of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU will be the development of relevant skills (upskilling) and re-qualification (reskilling).

Minister also mentioned the second priority of the Croatian Presidency, well-being at work, where the focus is on analysing and discussing factors that affect well-being at work and on promoting the implementation of good HR practices.

"Based on our two priorities, we will prepare the Council conclusions on the importance of skills development and well-being at work," the Minister said.

Regarding the topic of the minimum wage institute, Minister Aladrović stressed the importance of social dialogue in protecting workers and increasing wage transparency, expressing support for better social protection of workers as a prevention of labour poverty.

"As the Presidency, we will act as an honest broker and do our best in steering this initiative and reaching compromise between the Member States," the Minister concluded.

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