Ability to apply flexicurity in the Croatian labor market

Abstract

PURPOSE. For the purpose of enforcing flexicurity, deregulation of national labor standards is necessary. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the basic components of flexicurity as well as its secondary components (demographic, social and industrial relations) for a better understanding of the representation of basic flexicurity components in the Republic of Croatia compared to the selected EU states. METHODOLOGY. The paper is illustrated in order to provide a methodology that allows for how many components of flexicurity are represented in the Croatian labor market in relation to selected European countries which grouped together by in groups according to common characteristics with respect to flexicurity. RESULTS. The research results show an unfavorable position of the Republic of Croatia in terms of flexicurity components compared to other researched countries. We have to point out that certain components show a minimal advancement. Therefore, Croatia would profit from a stronger social dialogue in order to balance the stated components. Croatia could implement flexicurity only under the condition of developing new solidary interest relations that will reflect not only the changed needs of the workers and employers as collective partners but also that of the unemployed. CONTRIBUTION. The paper deals with issues that are discussed not only at national level but also at EU level. The scientific contribution of the work derives from the extensive empirical (qualitative and quantitative) research. The paper contains a detailed analysis, appropriate scientific research methods and numerous current and secondary sources of foreign and domestic scientific literature. Work is important for the academic community, policy makers, experts, students of economics and management, as well as for the wider public interested in the labor market. It also provides important insight into further design and development of labor market policies in Croatia. LIMITATIONS. Limitations in the research were for some countries (such as for Croatia becoming a member of the European Union in 2013) because there was no uniform data for all the years of research needed. W hd a