Freedom of Association
Database 2024

Freedom of Association
Indicator
Freedom of Association
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LRI 2024
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Croatia

Freedom of Association Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2024 (LRI 2024) is a de-jure index covering 145 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from “Total Lack of Decent Work” to “Decent Work”. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2024.

Croatia’s overall score is 89.5 out of 100. The overall score for Croatia is greater than the regional average observed across Eastern Europe (88). Within the Eastern Europe, the highest score is observed for Greece & Hungary (96).

Croatia ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) in 1991 and Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) in 1991.

Labour Rights Index 2024

89.5/100

LRI Country Score

75/100

Freedom of Association Indicator

20.76 %

Trade union density rate (%)

46.7 %

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)

1.12

SDG indicator 8.8.2

2

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

More Info

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

No

0

§43, Constitution of Croatia; §17, 165-175 & 186, Labour Code 2014; CEACR, C87, DR 2023

B

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

Yes

1

§57 of the Constitution of Croatia; §192-204 and 221 of Labour Code 2014

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

Yes

1

§61 of the Constitution of Croatia; §205 & 213-220 of Labour Code, 2014

Does the law prohibit imposing of excessive sanctions against striking workers?

Yes

1

§61 of the Constitution of Croatia; §215-216 of Labour Code, 2014

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100). https://labourrightsindex.org/  

Freedom of Association Indicator
The Freedom of Association indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100. 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT. 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT. 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT. 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link. 

Information

Source: §43, Constitution of Croatia; §17, 165-175 & 186, Labour Code 2014; CEACR, C87, DR 2023

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations

"Article 2. Right of workers and employers, without distinction whatsoever, to establish and join organizations. In its previous comment, having noted that only adult persons with legal capacity could establish workers’ or employers’ associations, the Committee requested the Government to clarify whether, in a sector with a high prevalence of minors who are allowed to conclude labour contracts, minors could avail themselves of legal procedures to help form a union that includes fewer than the ten adults required under section 171(1) of the Labour Act. The Committee notes the Government’s reiteration that the acquisition of business capacity is linked to the condition of majority and indicates that there are no areas with a high prevalence of minor workers, considering that the Government encourages education and higher education for all citizens. The Government adds that the issue will be further discussed with the social partners. Taking note of the above and recalling that minors who have reached the minimum age for admission to work should be able to exercise their trade union rights, the Committee encourages the Government to consider revising the relevant legislation to this effect, in consultation with the social partners."

Information

Source: §57 of the Constitution of Croatia; §192-204 and 221 of Labour Code 2014

Information

Source: §61 of the Constitution of Croatia; §205 & 213-220 of Labour Code, 2014

Information

Source: §61 of the Constitution of Croatia; §215-216 of Labour Code, 2014