The state-appointed emergency administrator for the Agrokor food and retail conglomerate said on Monday that Agrokor employees would receive a Christmas bonus of 1,500 kuna (€200), which is a 50 percent increase compared to last year's bonus.

“They will also get 600 kuna (€80) for their children, which will be paid out before the Saint Nicholas’ Day (December 6),” Perusko said.

He added that Agrokor has earmarked more than 35 million kuna (€4.7 million) for that purpose.

“This is our way of saying we, as a company, are grateful for everything the employees have done during the emergency administration procedure, as well as during the process of implementation of the (debt for equity) settlement deal. We will work on the quality of our workers, as well as the quality of our corporate management. I want to thank the unions, and the employees, for their help,” Perusko said.

Agrokor’s creditors approved the settlement plan in July by a majority vote of 80.2 percent, and The Zagreb Commercial Court in July had confirmed its legality. The plan was a key goal of the state-appointed emergency administration which took over the conglomerate in April 2017.

“The agreement on the Christmas bonus is another step in a series of improvements of the working environment within the Agrokor group. We are continuing to increase salaries, especially for our lowest-paid employees, and we think that is important to improve the business quality in the entire group,” Perusko’s Deputy Irena Weber said, adding the number of permanent contracts was increased.

“It is also important to mention we had employed a significant number of people in the Agrokor group. Konzum employed more than 1,300 people this year,” she said.

“Our goal is that Agrokor and its companies are not only the biggest, but the best employer in the region,” Weber said.

(€1 = 7.42 kuna)

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