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Zagreb - The parliament on Friday adopted amendments by a majority vote to the Government Act enabling the establishment of two new government offices - for social partnership and for public relations.
The bill, adopted under fast-track procedure, was supported by 80 deputies, 51 voted against and three abstained.
Under the amendments, the Social Partnership Office will be headed by a person proposed by the prime minister, and they will have the status of a state secretary and a state official. The Social Partnership Office will perform specialist, analytical, advisory and administrative jobs for the government and the prime minister related to setting conditions to improve social dialogue and partnership at the national level.
The Social Partnership Office had existed previously, from the early 2000s until the term of the Zoran Milanović government when it was abolished.
The Public Relations Office will be headed by the government spokesperson, who will be appointed to the post by the government, following a recommendation from the prime minister. Under the amendments, the government spokesperson, who now has the status of a state official, will have the status of a state secretary and have deputies, who will also have the status of state officials and be appointed under the same procedure.
The parliament also unanimously supported a proposal by the Children's Ombudswoman that Tatjana Holjevac be appointed her deputy.
The parliament sent amendments to the law on civil servants in local government bodies to a second reading, the main change being the possibility of part-time employment of pensioners under the age of 67, as well as amendments to the law on nursing, enabling nurses and technicians with bachelor's degrees and specialisation to administer therapy to patients without the presence of a doctor, and amendments on audiovisual activities.