The Prime Minister’s mediation solves the disagreement between employers and insurers

The first minister's mediation has solved the disagreement that arose between the employers' federation and insurance companies concerning workmen's compensation. The conflict had reached a climax in July 2003 calling the professionals of the building industry to boycott workmen's compensation. As of June 18 2003, insurance companies will apply a 12% premium rate increase, instead of the 19% initially announced. The employers' federation still insists that enterprises should negotiate their rate increase case by case, as of next January.
Increases for the periods stretching from November 19 to December 31 2002, and from January 1 to June 18 2003, are respectively fixed to 132% and 90% (instead of 132%).