Towards stronger collective bargaining in Croatia

When she addressed the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Congress in Berlin in 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called collective bargaining between strong trade unions and employers “Europe’s competitive edge in times of change”. The EU has since turned that recognition into law. Under the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive, every member state where collective bargaining coverage is below 80 per cent must draw up a national action plan to promote collective bargaining. Croatia is one of these countries.

The upcoming national action plan is an opportunity to strengthen collective bargaining in Croatia, at both company and sectoral (multi-employer) level. What should the plan contain, and what can the Government, social partners and other actors do to make it work?

UNI Europa (The European Services Workers Union) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Croatia and Slovenia Office Zagreb and Competence Center on the Future of Work Brussels) are pleased to invite you to a public seminar on these questions, bringing together representatives of the Government, the parliamentary opposition, trade unions, employers and academia.

Practicalities: Hotel Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Croatia

• Interpretation between Croatian and English will be provided.
• Participation is free of charge, but places are limited.
• Please register by 09.11.2026 by sending an email to milaleda.jovanovic(at)fes.de

Draft program (14:00–17:30)

14:00 Opening

• Oliver Roethig (Regional Secretary, UNI Europa)
• Felix Eikenberg (FES Croatia)
• Kresimir Sever (Croatian Office for Social Partnership) 

14:30 Implementing the EU Minimum Wage Directive: a national action plan for stronger bargaining

Presentation of the national action plan, followed by a panel discussion with Krešimir Sever (Head of the Social Partnership Office), Dario Hanzalek (SGIM), Darko Šeperić (SSSH), Mario Kozić (HST), and Oliver Roethig (UNI Europa).

15:30 Coffee Break

16:00 Promoting (sectoral) collective bargaining in Croatia

Introduction by Dragan Bagić on the situation and prospects of sectoral bargaining, followed by a panel discussion.

17:30 Closure and Conference End