Protection of workers' rights in the event of employer's bankruptcy

U slučaju težih poremećaja u poslovanju poduzetnika, kao što su nemogućnost redovitog obavljanja svoje djelatnosti i nemogućnost podmirivanja vlastith obveza, radnici su oni koji su najizloženiji negativnim, socijalnim posljedicama. Država je tu kako bi svojim zakonima omogućila adekvatnu zaštitu radnika. Stečajno zakonodavstvo je bitno kako bi zaštitilo i pružilo podršku poslovnim subjektima i radnicima, ali također ne smije zaobilaziti pravilo da se iz gospodarskog života uklone sve poslovne osobe koje nisu sposobne uspješno poslovati. Pravo na rad i prava radnika (kao i obveze) propisuje Zakon o radu, dok, u slučajevima stečaja poslodavca, njihovu zaštitu prava propisuje Stečajni zakon, Zakon o osiguranju radničkih tražbina te Zakon o postupku izvanredne uprave u trgovačkim društvima od sistemskog značaja za RH . Radi razmatranja navedenih pitanja rad je strukturiran na sljedeći način. Prvi dio rada odnosi se na osnovne pojmove iz radnog prava, radni odnos, ugovor o radu, materijalna prava radnika, poslodavce u stečajnom postupku, radnike kao vjerovnike u stečajnom postupku te pravne posljedice otvaranja stečajnog postupka kao što su otkaz ugovora o radu, kolektivno otkazivanje ugovora o radu te prestanak prava radnika na suodlučivanju. Drugi dio rada odnosi se na prava radnika u slučaju stečaja poslodavca te blokade računa poslodavca. Govori se o međunarodnom pravu i pravu Europske unije u pogledu zaštite potraživanja radnika u stečajnom postupku, o pravima radnika u slučaju stečaja poslodavca u Republici Hrvatskoj, pravima radnika u slučaju blokade računa, Agenciji za osiguranje radničkih tražbina, postupcima ostvarivanja prava u slučaju stečaja poslodavca, postupcima ostvarivanja prava u slučaju blokade računa poslodavca te prijenosu potraživanja u slučaju stečaja poslodavca, prema ZORT koji je trenutno na snazi u RH. Rad je utemeljen na sekundarnim istraživanjem – analizi stručne literature i pravne regulacije o temi zaštite prava radnika u slučaju stečaja poslodavca.In the case of more serious disruptions in the business of entrepreneurs, such as the inability to regularly perform their activities and the inability to settle their own obligations, workers are the ones who are most exposed to negative, social consequences. The state is there to ensure adequate protection of workers through its laws. Bankruptcy legislation is important in order to protect and provide support to business entities and workers, but it must also not bypass the rule to remove from economic life all business persons who are not capable of successful business. The right to work and the rights of workers (as well as obligations) are prescribed by Zakon o radu while, in cases of bankruptcy of the employer, their protection is prescribed by Stečajni zakon, Zakon o osiguranju radničkih tražbina te Zakon o postupku izvanredne uprave u trgovačkim društvima od sistemskog značaja za RH. In order to consider the mentioned questions, the text is structured as follows. The first part of the text refers to the basic concepts of labor law, employment relationship, employment contract, material rights of workers, employers in bankruptcy proceedings, workers as creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and the legal consequences of opening bankruptcy proceedings, such as termination of employment contracts, collective dismissal of the employment contract and termination of the employee's right to co-decision. The second part of the text refers to the rights of workers in case of bankruptcy of the employer and blocking of the employer's account. We are talking about international law and the law of the European Union regarding the protection of workers' claims in bankruptcy proceedings, about the rights of workers in case of bankruptcy of the employer in the Republic of Croatia, the rights of workers in case of blocked accounts, the Workers' Claims Insurance Agency, procedures for exercising rights in case of bankruptcy of the employer, procedures for exercising rights in case of blocking of the employer's account and transfer of claims in case of bankruptcy of the employer, according to ZORT which is currently in force in the Republic of Croatia. The text is based on secondary research - analysis of professional literature and legal regulation on the topic of protection of workers' rights in case of employer's bankruptcy