Laws and regulations governing the work of artists on employment, working conditions and social welfare:

• Self-employed artists
  In the Republic of Croatia, the status of artists is regulated by the Law on the Rights of self-employed Artists and Promotion of Cultural and Artistic Work ("Narodne novine" [Official Gazette], nos. 43/96, 44/96, corr. 127/00). This Law provides for social security of artists and regulates issues of pension, disability and health insurance of self-employed artists.
  Self-employed artists are defined as those who do not hold jobs with an employer and to whom artistic work is the only and main vocation. Artists can join professional associations and form artists' organizations in the field of their artistic activity.
  
  Their rights are regulated by the Rules on the procedure and conditions for granting self-employed artists rights to have contributions for pension and disability as well as health insurance paid out of the state budget of the Republic of Croatia ("Narodne novine"/Official Gazette" nos. 110/96,39/99,129/99 and 109/00).
  Self-employed artists who do not enjoy the right to have contributions for pension, disability and health insurance from the state can pay these contributions by themselves.
  
  
• Employed artists
  For artists who are permanently employed, the contributions are paid by the employer, providing protection of their social status in this way. The Law on Theatres ("Narodne novine"/Official Gazette/, n°61/91, 13/97 and 127/00) regulates the status of artists employed in theatres.
  The status of artists employed in public institutions financed out of state budget is regulated by the Law on Salaries in Public Services (“Narodne novine”/Official Gazette/, n°27/01), the Decree on job classifications and job complexity coefficients in public services ('Narodne novine"/Official Gazette/, n°38/01 and 112/01) and General Collective Agreement for senior and lower grade employees in public services ("Narodne novine"/Official Gazette/, n°3/02).
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Professional status
Artists are granted the professional status in Croatia.
This status is proved on the basis of his/her work The Republic of Croatia attaches particular significance to the protection of the social and professional status of artists, providing, on the basis of the above mentioned Law, self-employed artists with the right to have their pension, disability and health insurance contributions paid out of the state budget upon the artist's written request. In addition, in order to acquire these rights, the artist’s professional work has to represent a noticeable contribution to Croatian culture and art. The rights are granted by a special professional commission from specific artistic fields, whose decision need to be approved by the Minister of Culture.

The artist who has the status of self-employed artist but does not comply with the criteria may pay the required contributions for health and social insurance himself.
 
Health care system
The Law on health insurance applies to all employees. Artists do not have a specific form of health insurance.
Self-employed artists complying with the stipulated criteria have the right to health insurance.

SOCIAL WELFARE

Insurance schemes
Artists who are employees, self employed artists who fulfil the stipulated conditions for the payment of contributions according to special provisions, or artists who pay their own contributions have primary health care, injury at work and occupational disease insurance and maternity leave benefits.

Social coverage is compulsory for everyone.

Retirement
The Law on the Rights of Self-Employed Artists and Promotion of Cultural and Artistic Work ("Narodne novine", /Official Gazette/ n°43/96) regulates the payment of
contributions for pension insurance, which can be paid either individually by the artist or else paid out of the state budget. For specific artistic professions (classical ballet dancers, modern dance dancers, ballet masters, opera soloists, dancers-singers in professional folk dance ensembles), the years of service for pension insurance purposes are calculated by counting 12 months of service as 18 and lowering the age limit (one for every three years) in compliance with the Law on the prolonged duration of years of service for insurance purposes ("Narodne novine", /Official Gazette n°71/99).
The right to a pension is regulated by the Law on Pension Insurance ("Narodne novine", /Official Gazette/ n° 102/98,127/00, 59/01,109/01 and 147/02).

UNEMPLOYMENT

During unemployment, the Law on employment mediation and rights regulates the rights of unemployed artists, as well as of all other unemployed workers ("Narodne novine", /Official Gazette/ n°32/02 and 86/02 - corr.). It is to be pointed out that according to this Law, unemployed persons, including artists, have the right to health insurance and, under prescribed conditions, the right to compensation during unemployment.

Source: Croatian Commission for UNESCO, February 2003.

Standard-setting instruments:

• Regulations of text n° 793 (19.03.1999) on the procedure and conditions for recognition of the right of independant artists to pay contributions for pension and disability insurance and health insurance under the budget of the Republic, as amended to 19 March 1999.