Response to a Statement Issued by the International Monetary Fund on the Sunday Operations of Stores in Croatia

Zagreb (IKA) — Croatian Caritas and the Franciscan Institute for the Culture of Peace have issued a joint public statement in response to a statement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the Sunday operations of stores in Croatia. This joint statement expresses surprise at the meddling by a foreign organization in an amendment to the Commerce Act in connection with the operations of stores on Sundays, i.e. a statement by the head of the IMF mission, Hans Flickenschild, that advises “desisting from the implementation of this Act because it is a step backwards for Croatia.” “Such a statement by Mr. Flickenschild indicates that he is well acquainted with the interests of big business but poorly acquainted with the circumstances that led to the widespread campaign among the Croatian public in connection with the operation of stores on Sundays: the failure to respect the rights of workers to a weekly day of rest and to receive suitable compensation for Sundays, holidays and overtime. In stores in Croatia, so many overtime hours are worked annually that it would be possible to employ an additional 12,000 workers,” emphasizes the joint statement by Croatian Caritas and the Franciscan Institute for the Culture of Peace. It also refers to the widespread campaign that preceded the passage of this amendment, which these two institutions inaugurated with the support and cooperation of the Union of Stores, other unions and social partners, during which the signatures of 300,000 citizens of Croatia were collected. “When we compare the entire lengthy process of the preparation for the amendment to the Commerce Act, including all the relevant factors and the legitimacy of the procedure for the passage of this amendment with the statement by Mr. Flickenschild, it is surprising, and actually seems to be a decree, particularly because according to our research this Act will not lead to a reduction in the growth of the GDP. All estimates show that sales in stores will not be lowered but will be shifted to other days,” notes the statement, and adds that stores in over 80% of Western European countries do not operate on Sundays. The example of Germany is cited, which has five times greater purchasing power than Croatia and does not have open stores on Sundays, and also of Slovenia, which voted by referendum to close its stores on Sundays. “If there is a need to improve the Act, it should occur within the regular procedure and not according to a decree by an institution or individual solely protecting the interests of big business while ignoring social justice. We invite to respect Croatian law anto to respect the little person and worker,” concluded the joint statement signed by the head of Croatian Caritas, Mario Bebić, and the head of the Franciscan Institute for the Culture of Peace, Fra Bože Vuleta.