KBC Zagreb Union Chief: Pay for cleaning operating rooms can't equal stairwell cleaning

An alarming shortage of cleaning staff at the Clinical Hospital Center (KBC) Zagreb, the largest hospital in Croatia, has brought a host of accumulated problems to the forefront this summer. These include a chronic lack of workers, questions of pay equity, and worrying improvisations within the healthcare system, where errors can have fatal consequences.

Tanja Leontić, president of the KBC Zagreb Trade Union, publicly raised concerns about the situation. She explained to Večernji list the reasons for calling an inspection at the Rebro hospital, emphasizing that this is not just a story about cleaners, but a deeper societal issue. Leontić, who holds a master's degree in medical laboratory diagnostics and has worked at KBC Zagreb for over 34 years, also serves as the president of the KBC Zagreb Workers' Council.

Leontić stressed the disparity in wages, stating, "The pay for cleaning operating rooms, which also guarantees patient safety, cannot be the same as for cleaning staircases." This highlights a core grievance among the staff, suggesting that the critical nature and responsibility associated with certain cleaning tasks are not reflected in compensation.

The union's intervention underscores the severity of the staffing crisis and its potential impact on patient care. Leontić's call for an inspection and her framing of the issue as a broader societal problem suggest that the challenges at KBC Zagreb are symptomatic of wider labor and wage disputes within Croatia's public sector.