Thousands of Croatians protested in the capital Zagreb on Saturday to demand higher wages and pensions amid rising inflation in the EU country in recent months.
The protest called “Croatia together for higher wages and pensions” was held after the country recorded inflation of 4.89% in March, the highest in the eurozone.
Carrying placards saying “Stop the poverty tax” and “If everything got more expensive, why didn’t our wages go up?”, protesters marched through central Zagreb before gathering in the main Jelačić Square.
The rally was organized by three main trade unions and a pensioners’ association with many participants coming from other Croatian cities.
The president of Croatia’s SSS trade union federation, Mladen Novosel, said the demands were not “unreasonable” and offered the government a two-part solution.
“At the end of the year, when the minimum wage increases, increase it by 250 euros gross and do the same next year. This is how we will reach the wage we are looking for,” said Novosel.
The unions want the minimum and average net wages to rise to €1,100 and €2,200, respectively (currently around €800 and €1,500).
They also want average pensions to rise to €1,100 from the current €700.
The main goal of the protest, according to the organizers, is to “wake up Croatian workers, people, pensioners and students” and restore their belief that they should stay and fight for better conditions in Croatia, instead of leaving the country.
Croatia, an EU member since 2013, has the sixth highest food prices in the bloc but ranks 19th in average monthly wages.
Food accounts for 26.7% of living costs, compared to 16.5% in neighboring Slovenia and 12.5% in Germany.
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