ZAGREB, CROATIA - The Croatian cabinet has increased the basis for calculating salaries for state budget users by six percent. Instead of the current 5,108.84 kuna, it will be 5,415.37 kuna. The president of the SDP (Social Democratic Party) Zoran Milanovic said the decision that high state officials’ salaries will rise is not understandable and not defendable, in a year where economic growth is predicted to slow down.

“The cabinet, or parliamentary majority, must urgently find a way to exclude that category from the salary growth of six percent. This behaviour shows departure from any feeling for the crisis we are in. If the cabinet does not do so, SDP will bring that proposal to parliament” said Milanovic.

Remember, the collective contract will give a salary rise of 1,300 kuna to the president, and the president of parliament Luka Bebic and premier Ivo Sanader should get a 1,000 kuna salary rise.

The vice-presidents of the cabinet will get 1011 kuna more, ministers will get 813, and parliamentarians will get 835 kuna more.