Croatia
Answer ... The right to parental leave exists at a national level. The Act on Maternity and Parental Benefits (Official Gazette 85/08, 110/08, 34/11, 54/13, 152/14, 59/17 and 37/20) distinguishes between maternity leave (mandatory and additional maternity leave) and parental leave.
Croatia
Answer ... Maternity leave: Generally, the mother is entitled to maternity leave from 28 days before the pregnancy due date until the child is six months of age. If a specialist obstetrician/gynaecologist decides that there are justified health reasons, maternity leave may start 45 days before the pregnancy due date at the earliest. Before the commencement of maternity leave, a pregnant employee can be found temporarily unfit to work due to complications in pregnancy, during which time she has the right to full salary compensation according to domestic health insurance regulation.
Mandatory maternity leave lasts from 28 days before the pregnancy due date until the 70th day after the baby’s birth. Thereafter, the mother has the right to additional maternity leave until the child reaches six months of age.
During maternity leave, the mother receives full salary compensation, without limitation.
Parental leave: Parental leave can be used by both parents while the child is between six months and eight years of age. The duration of parental leave is eight months for the first and second child and 30 months for twins, a third child and every subsequent child. Generally, both parents use parental leave equally (four or 15 months each); but one parent can also use the entire parental leave for a duration of six or 30 months, subject to the parents’ personal agreement.
Parental leave can be used twice a year at most, for a duration of at least 30 days.
During the first six or eight months of parental leave, the parent has the right to full salary compensation in an amount of up to 170% of the ‘monthly budgetary base’ (HRK 5,654.20). The minimum compensation is 70% of the monthly budgetary base (HRK 2,328.20).
For the remaining duration of parental leave, the salary compensation amounts to 70% of the monthly budgetary base (HRK 2,328.20).
Croatia
Answer ... Yes, trade unions are recognised. Unions can be established by at least 10 natural persons who are of age and have the capacity to exercise their rights. Unions are registered as legal entities upon registration in the Association Registry. They can form alliances and other types of associations in order to align their interests at a higher level. Unions can be parties to collective bargaining agreements, and can represent their members in labour disputes before the courts and public authorities and in arbitration and mediation procedures. Before an employer, unions are represented by one or more union representatives or by a union commissioner (if the union has five or more members employed with the same employer), who has the right to protect and promote the rights and interests of the union’s members.
Croatia
Answer ... According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the employee must give consent for the employer to process his or her personal data. The employer must protect the personal data of employees in accordance with the GDPR. It is now standard practice to request an employee’s consent to the processing of his or her personal data when concluding the employment agreement.
Croatia
Answer ... Croatian law recognises part-time and full-time employment contracts. Full-time employment is 40 hours per week.
The Labour Act also recognises employment contracts for permanent seasonal work, performed by seasonal workers. These are used by employees who mostly work seasonally (eg, in the tourism sector).
The Labour Act provides for the possibility of employing temporary workers via agencies that hire out workers. Temp workers enter into employment contracts for temporary work with temp agencies. The agencies then conclude contracts for the assignment of workers. Temp agencies must be registered with the competent ministry.