Croatian Farmer’s Market Traders Ready To Strike

The Croatian Farmer’s Market Association says that its famous fruit and vegetable traders are ready to go on strike if the government does not stop with its plans to force traders at market stalls to install computerised fiscal cash registers.

The Association on Wednesday started a ‘petition’ action which they hope will prevent the new law coming into effect. The new fiscalization laws which were introduced at the start of this year effect all trading businesses, will now apply to traders selling fresh fruit and vegetables on Croatia’s famous farmers markets.

From 1 April fruit and vegetable traders on stalls will have to install computerised cash registers, which are synced to the nation’s tax office, and begin issuing receipts. By 1 July, when Croatia are due to enter the EU, the transformation will have to be complete. The new law has angered the Croatian Farmer’s Market Association, forcing them to initiate the petition, and even strike action if need be.

“We are one of the few countries in Europe with an open farmer’s market tradition, and we need to leave it in its natural state and let it be something that will be special and which our country will be identified for in Europe. There would not be one group of tourists who when visiting Zagreb do not visit the Dolac markets, that is something we need to keep and protect,”

Ironically the BBC were at Dolac in Zagreb earlier this week to film for a 30-minute documentary about Croatian working life, comparing the markets a ‘musical’, with their unique ambience and trading style.

The Association says there are many complications surrounding the new law also. Installing a computerised cash register in the outdoors may pose a problem with snow, rain, extreme heat and other elements. Another problem is the fluctuation in prices. Bartering prices is something that is the life and soul of farmers markets, and imposing cash registers will affect that, and stall owners are not happy