PHOTO: Kraš food industry d.d.

Workers in the Kraš food industry will welcome the New Year with a significant improvement in material rights, especially those working in production, judging by the recently signed Collective Agreement.

The Management Board of Kraš food industry d.d. and representatives of the Trade Union of Employees in Agriculture, Food and Tobacco Industry and Water Management of Croatia, PPDIV, agreed on terms that come into force on 1 January 2026, guaranteeing a total investment of 2.6 million euros in improving employees' earnings.

This significant investment is aimed at almost the entire workforce, but with special emphasis on workers who stand by the production lines every day.

Priority: Workers in Kraš plants

The key change concerns an increase in the basic monthly salary. For all employees in worker and specialist positions, which make up 93 percent of Kraš's workforce, the basic salary is increasing by 50 euros gross. This increase in the base, which will be implemented throughout 2026, amounts to 1.2 million euros.

However, the largest part of the investment, an additional 1.4 million euros, will be directed precisely to workers on the production lines in Zagreb and Osijek. In this way, the company has clearly shown who the priority is in these income adjustments.

Tomislav Bagić, President of the Management Board of Kraš, emphasized the importance of such a decision, explaining that female and male production workers make up the largest part of the company.

'Their work ensures that every Kraš product maintains the high quality standards that our consumers rightfully expect. We are aware of how exceptionally important their contribution is, which is why we decided that they should be the priority in the salary adjustment,' said Bagić. He added that Kraš's success is based on the commitment of all employees, and such steps show a clear intention for their knowledge and dedication to remain the foundation of the long-term value of the entire company.

Continuous partnership between the union and management

Satisfaction with the agreement reached was also expressed by Denis Paradiš, president of the PPDIV Trade Union, emphasizing that the signing of the new Collective Agreement confirms the continuity of the open and constructive dialogue they have been nurturing with the Management Board of Kraš for many years.

'Every year we strive to improve the material rights and working conditions of employees, and today's Collective Agreement is further proof that the partnership between the Trade Union and the Management Board brings concrete results for the benefit of workers,' Paradiš pointed out.

In addition to the aforementioned increase in the basic salary, the Collective Agreement also guarantees Kraš employees a range of additional, fixed earnings and benefits. Thus, a monthly fixed performance bonus of 50 euros has been secured, as well as a Christmas bonus and annual leave allowance of 350 euros each, 133 euros in kind gift, and a child gift in the amount of 140 euros. In addition, workers are guaranteed monthly meal allowances in the amount of 100 euros and transport compensation.