Partner Article

Credit crunch cancels Croatian Christmas

Every year in the UK we hear threats of cancelled Christmases due to health and safety or political correctness, most of which turn out to be completely baseless rumours. But spare a thought for Croatian workers this year, as the country’s government has banned Christmas and New Year parties in the public sector because of the global financial crisis.

State-run firms and organisations have also been told that they won’t be allowed to dip into their funds to buy Christmas presents, reports the BBC. The ban follows a proposal to freeze public-sector salaries next year.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said there was no need for panic, but the country had to be serious.

“I believe that with the proposed measures … we can avoid a deeper crisis within the next year,” said Mr Sanader. “For that goal we forbid buying of Christmas and New Year’s gifts as well as organising of Christmas and New Year’s receptions.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .