The Project analysed whether labour rights are respected or not, and/or whether they are improved and strengthened by the collective agreement. Croatia has relatively strict labour legislation characterised by the society being polarised into persons with relatively safe employment (the insiders) and the unemployed (the outsiders). Various journalists, experts, employers and politicians have expressed the opinion that changes to the Labour Act are one of the crucial factors and precondition for Croatia to exit the economic crisis and to recover.
The Project concluded that an adequate implementation and respect of the Labour Act is more important than its frequent changes. Some changes to the Labour Act in Croatia would probably be useful, but they would, without a doubt, have only limited impact on Croatian economy. Expectations of the benefits from changes to the Labour Act in economic and social terms should be realistic and reasonable. It is unfair and unfounded to say that the said changes would lead to greater employment, investment and job creation. Frequent changes to the Labour Act are detrimental to its full and successful implementation; they damage legal certainty and do not contribute to the establishment of the much needed and crucial rule of law in Croatia.