Currently valid collective agreements in Croatia cover key sectors, and each provides specific rights and benefits to workers:

  1. Collective agreement for state and civil officers: on March 1, 2024, Amendments to the Collective Agreement for state and civil officers were adopted NN 29/2024. The contract ensures salary increases, the introduction of Easter, Christmas and holiday pay, with additional benefits for employees with many years of experience. The goal is, among other things, to equalize salaries for similar jobs in the state sector and ensure better working conditions.
  1. Collective agreement for trade activity: The currently valid Collective Agreement for trade activities was signed on September 25, 2024, NN 117/2024, between the Trade Union of Croatia and the Trade Association, as representatives of employers and trade unions in this sector. This collective agreement covers many aspects of working conditions in trade, including minimum wages, holiday rights, safety measures, severance pay and other work benefits, and is extended to all employers and workers in the trade sector, including temporary employment agencies.

In addition to the provisions governing basic working conditions, the contract is aligned with relevant laws, including the Labor Act and the Trade Act, and the provisions of the collective agreement also refer to specific aspects such as working on Sundays and minimum daily and weekly rest.

The most important elements of the new Collective Agreement for trade activities include:

  1. Minimum Salary: The contract defines the minimum gross salary, which must not be lower than the legal minimum salary in Croatia. Employers are obliged to regulate the basis and criteria of salary payments through internal acts, work regulations, and job systematization.
  2. Supplements to Salary: Supplements are provided for work in special conditions, such as night work, work on weekends and holidays, and work in special or difficult conditions. In this way, the contract provides additional protection and reward for workers in different circumstances.
  3. Extended Application: The contract was extended by the decision of the Ministry of Labor and applies to all employers and workers in the trade sector, regardless of whether they signed the contract directly. This extension provides coverage for all employees, including those of artisans and small employers.
  4. Rights and Obligations of Workers and Employers: The contract additionally establishes labor rights and obligations, along with measures to improve working conditions and protect workplaces, which includes requirements for transparency of working conditions and safety of the working environment.
  5. Application to the Sector: The agreement covers a wide range of trade activities, including retail, wholesale and specialized stores such as pharmacies, making it one of the most extensive collective agreements in the private sector.

These key measures are designed to improve working conditions and standards in the trade, which contributes to the protection of workers and increases the competitiveness of the sector in the market.

  1. Collective agreement for hospitality sector:

The currently valid Collective Agreement for hospitality sector NN 39/2024 in Croatia was adopted on March 12, 2024 and was extended to all employers and workers in the activities of accommodation and food preparation and serving (NKD sections 55 and 56), starting on May 1, 2024. year. This contract regulates the minimum rights and obligations of workers and employers in the hospitality industry, including the basic salary and salary supplements.

It provides workers in the hospitality industry with protection of working hours, measures for safety and health, and protection of workers’ dignity. This contract also stipulates rights to paid leave in special cases.

Key provisions include:

  • Minimum gross wages for typical jobs in the hospitality industry, such as waiters, cooks and receptionists, with basic wages adjusted to the complexity of the jobs. For example, for more demanding jobs, the minimum gross salary is from EUR 880 upwards, depending on the specifics of the position.
  • Salary allowances include seniority, special working conditions, harder work and work in extraordinary circumstances.
  • The application of the contract includes foreign workers, as well as workers borrowed through temporary employment agencies.
  1. Collective agreement for construction:

The currently valid framework for the Collective Agreement in Construction in Croatia is based on the seventh amendments to this agreement from February 2024, which were published in the Official Gazette no. 29/2024. These changes were later extended to all employers and workers in the construction industry through the Decision of the Ministry of Labor published in the Official Gazette no. 64/2024, making them mandatory for all entities in the construction sector (NKD 2007, area F).

This contract establishes new basic wages according to the complexity of jobs and regulates in detail the rights of trade unions to request information about wages and the structure of employees, which further strengthens workers’ rights in this sector.

It refers to the construction sector, with a special emphasis on safety and health at work. It also defines the rights of workers at different levels of employment contracts, including those for a fixed and indefinite period and workers from abroad who work on the basis of a contract in Croatia.

These collective agreements seek to improve working conditions, provide adequate leave and severance pay, and support workers in specific situations within their industries.