Press release regarding media statements about alleged illegal employment of foreign workers for reconstruction of MFAEI building

Regarding the statements published today in certain media concerning the alleged illegal employment of foreign workers for reconstruction and other works currently underway at the MFAEI building, the MFAEI wishes to state the following:

Pursuant to the public competition published in May 2005 for the reconstruction and construction works of the Dorđićeva 4 – Petrinjska 18 – N. Š. Zrinskog Square 7-8 block, as the financially most favourable bidder, companies Coning Ltd. and Zagorje Tehnobeton Ltd. from Varaždin have been elected in a lawful procedure and signed contracts with.

Coning Ltd. has hired as a subcontractor the Teh-gradnja Ltd. company from Zagreb which, according to the media statements, employed unregistered workers.

The MFAEI would like to point out that the hiring and legal status of workers at a construction site is an exclusive responsibility of the contractor and subcontractors, and that the MFAEI in this matter is fully adhering to the Law on Public Procurement and the laws and regulations on building, as well as the regulations on intelligence, physical and technical protection. The MFAEI would particularly like to point out the fact that relevant inspectoral bodies have on several occasions conducted unannounced inspections of the works, including controlling the construction books and registering the workers, and have never found any irregularities or instances of non-compliance with the regulations.

The list of workers that contractor Coning had submitted to the MFAEI contained no persons that are being processed by the Ministry of Interior.

The MFAEI is keeping close contact with the Ministry of Interior which has launched investigative and other activities to determine the facts. In case any irregularities are found, the State Inspectorate and other services will undertake appropriate measures against the physical and legal persons responsible.

Immediately after the statements about the alleged illegal employment of workers appeared in the press, the MFAEI requested an immediate check and written statement from Coning about the allegations.

The MFAEI would also like to point out that the construction works are being performed at a part of the build that is physically completely separated from the secure part of the MFAEI building. Safety-wise, the building is divided in two parts: the secure (active) part, where all of the offices and communication installations are, and the construction site, at which rough construction works are being performed. The secure part cannot be entered from the construction site or by persons who have not been checked by the relevant MFAEI directorate. In accordance with the phases of the construction, appropriate counterintelligence measures will be conducted by the relevant bodies of the Republic of Croatia in accordance with the law.

In case the allegations about unauthorised persons working at the construction site are confirmed, the MFAEI will seek Coning’s responsibility as well as the taking of legal measures.