Factsheet for measure
HR-2020-24/1045
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Updated
– measures in Croatia
Measures for tourism and hospitality
Mjere za turizam i ugostiteljstvo
Background information
Croatia is highly dependable on tourism, which represent around 18-20% of its GDP. Therefore, the consequences of the COVID-19 on Croatian economy should be seen primarily through this economic sector and its spill-over effects on the whole economy. As the share of exports in Croatia's GDP, primarily due to positive trends in tourism, has increased over the last 10 years, so its GDP has become increasingly sensitive to changes in exports. Negative factors, as a sudden decrease in exports, due to an exogenous event like the COVID-19, could have a very fast adverse result in significant GDP decline. Tourism is very sensitive to safety and health because if tourists do not feel safe, they do not travel. Moreover, the tourist sector is experiencing growing recruitment problems. Waiters, chefs, cleaners, and helpers in offices, hotels, and other establishments are needed, but due to the work’s seasonal nature and limited employment possibilities out of season, young people are not willing to enroll in educational programs for these occupations. Further, there is a widespread lack of bakers, pastry-cooks, and confectionery makers.
Content of measure
Representative trade unions, the Tourism and Services Trade Union of Croatia and Trade Union of Istria, Kvarner and Dalmatia on workers’ side, and Croatian Employers’ Association , Catering and Tourism Association, on employers’ side, agreed on 25 March 2020 to suspend the Collective Agreement of Hospitality until the decision of the competent government bodies to terminate outstanding COVID-19 pandemic measures. The main goal is to aid and preserve skilled labour force in the sector, which is essential for the satisfaction of guests. The parties concluded on 8 June 2020, a new agreement that temporary postpones the increase in the level of the minimum and other wages. The parties further agreed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the worker who is temporary not working according to the employer’s decision, is entitled to wage compensation in the amount of at least 50% of his or her basic wage. If the mentioned amount will be lower than the amount of minimal wage, stipulated by the Decree on minimal wage, the worker is eligible on the wage equal to the minimal wage. All other stipulations of the Collective agreement stay on force. Trade Unions accepted the Agreement fully aware that this is the case of special circumstances that employers could not expect or prevent and therefore they are not responsible for them.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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09 March 2021
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The Catering and Tourism Guild within the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (Hrvatska obrtnicka komora - HOK) urged the authorities to specify short-term and long-term measures to bail out the hospitality sector against the background of the epidemiological situation and poor conditions in that sector. Hospitality and tourism sectors along with other related businesses, have been worst affected by the pandemic and most businesses in that sector have not worked for more than two months due to the ban of their work. The guild called for short-term measures to be implemented as of 1 February 2021 so that the work of cafes and restaurants are treated equally and be allowed to provide "services to go" and retain the right for a reimbursement of fixed costs and job-keeping measures. As a long-term measure, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports organized for entrepreneurs to use funds from state aid programs as part of economic recovery measures. The implementing bodies of the program are the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development for large enterprises and the Croatian Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investment (HAMAG-BICRO) for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The mentioned bodies approve guarantees for new liquidity loans which cover up to 100 percent of the loan principal. The aim of the program is to provide financial support to entrepreneurs engaged in activities in the tourism and related activities. The aid is granted as state guarantees for new liquidity loans, and the eligible beneficiaries are micro, SMEs and large enterprises operating in the tourism and related activities. The total amount of planned funds under this program is HRK 1.500 billion (€1.99 billion).
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13 November 2020
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As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause enormous issues for travel and tourism, several Croatian hotels have turned to ''hotel office'' offers. Two popular hotels in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, Westin and the Sheraton Zagreb, have decided to dip their toes in such an offer. Through active participation in the global program of the world's largest hotel group, Marriott International, under whose brands the Westin and the Sheraton Zagreb operate have joined the growing trend of supplying ''hotel offices''. Specifically, Westin and the Sheraton Zagreb offer two options, Stay Pass and Day Pass, as part of Marriott's "work anywhere" program. The Stay Pass programme includes bed and breakfast in one of the rooms or suites, early check-in (06:00) and late check-out (18:00), free access to a small meeting room, a welcome coffee, tea or fresh organic juice, a private workspace (desk and chair), enhanced Wi-Fi and connectivity, as well as credit for consumption in restaurants and bars. Under this programme, guests also have free access to the pool, spa and fitness centre at the Westin.
Both of these Zagreb hotels also offer a Day Pass programme, they also offer packages which will cover several days, with free parking, use of the hotel's business center, lunch and refreshing healthy juices and snacks throughout the day to boost immunity. The total price of the Day Pass package is HRK 560 (€75) for 1 day, HRK 1,400 (€187) for a three-day service and HRK 2,600 (€347) for a seven-day service, with the proviso that the Day Pass which covers several days does not need to be used continuously.
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Use of measure
The touristic results in 2020 are much better that expected with around 75% of incoming foreign tourists in comparison with the situation in 2019. However, there is no guarantee for 2021 and therefore such measures can be also applied in the nearly future.
Contents
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Employment retention
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Income protection
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Trade unions
Employers' organisations
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Companies
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Social partners jointly
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
Social partners agreed on the content of the new agreement that temporary postpones the increase in the level of the minimum and other wages. The agreement also stipulates the amount of the wage compensation for the worker that is temporary not working according to the employer’s decision.
Views and reactions
Both sides of social partners are very satisfied with the signed agreement. Trade Unions accepted the Agreement fully aware that this is the case of special circumstances that employers could not expect or prevent and therefore they are not responsible for them.
Sectors and occupations
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This case is sector-specific (only private sector)
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Economic area
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Sector (NACE level 2)
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I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities
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I55 Accommodation
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I56 Food and beverage service activities
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This case is not occupation-specific.
Sources
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08 June 2020: Sporazum
(www.stuh.hr)
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13 November 2020: I HUP Zagreb se uključio u program ureda iz hotela
(www.poslovni.hr)
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09 March 2021: Državna jamstva za turisticki sector (State guarantees for tourism sector)
(www.hok.hr)
