HRForeign Workers in Croatia – Where We Are Wrong and How Can Communication Prevent Further Violence?
By: Jan Bolić
In recent weeks, Croatia’s status as one of the safest countries in the world has been jeopardized by reports of attacks on foreign workers, often delivery workers for online platforms. Over the past month, at least six incidents have made headlines. With 135,000 foreign workers currently in Croatia and that number expected to grow, estimates suggest that by the end of the year, the country will host about 50,000 workers from non-EU countries. It’s clear that we need a comprehensive integration strategy, which, of course, includes communication.
The perpetrators of these attacks are mostly young people, sometimes even minors, targeting foreign workers who do not speak Croatian and have come here to earn an honest living to support their families, just like the citizens of Croatia. They are intercepted on the streets, verbally and physically assaulted, robbed, have their equipment destroyed, and are racially abused. It’s important to note that these foreign workers, in addition to the physical harm, suffer psychological consequences as well.
Moreover, attackers often record these assaults on their smartphones and later post them on social media, where the videos can garner thousands of views in just a few hours. These attacks are becoming more frequent and paint an ugly picture of Croatia.
Strategic communication expert Krešimir Macan highlighted the importance of communication, or rather the lack of it, and its impact on everyday life. He is particularly concerned that the victims are hardworking individuals, toiling in the summer heat, being robbed or exploited by those who don’t even consider doing any work.
“You’re shocked at the idea that they think the easiest way to get money or cigarettes is to rob anyone. Today it’s foreign workers, tomorrow it could be our children or someone else weaker, facing a teenage gang. Once we allow this to escalate, foreign workers will just be the beginning of the spiral. No one will feel safe anymore because one day the weaker ones will retaliate,” Macan said in an interview for Women in Adria.
Public education and upbringing can help prevent or reduce such incidents, Macan emphasizes, but he warns that institutions are dangerously lagging behind.
“When someone finally gets seriously hurt, which could happen if we stay silent, we’ll regret not speaking out when we should have. That’s why everyone needs to speak up now – clearly and loudly – this is unacceptable, and we won’t tolerate it because we want to continue living in a safe country for everyone who lives here or visits.” He concluded: “How we make it is how it will be for us. It’s all up to us.”
After a series of incidents, the Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister Davor Božinović spoke out on his official Facebook page, condemning the attacks:
“This act of violence is completely unacceptable and goes against the values we as a society must uphold. Whether it’s foreign nationals visiting our safe Croatia as tourists or foreign workers contributing to the development of our economy through their hard work, and who come to earn an honest living to support themselves and their families. Foreign nationals have become valuable members of our community, and without their contribution, including that of many tourists, our standard of living would be significantly lower.”
Croatia is one of the safest countries in Europe, and tourists feel secure here and are eager to visit. However, to maintain this positive perception, urgent action is needed. First, through clear communication.
Relevant ministries and organizations should have already developed and begun implementing awareness campaigns about the importance of foreign workers and their role in stabilizing the economy. Another focus of communication should be on reducing prejudices and combating stereotypes related to specific groups of foreign workers. Both initiatives should be tailored to different audiences, particularly targeting younger populations. At the same time, part of the campaign should focus on foreign workers themselves, offering support and encouraging their adaptation to Croatian life, as NGOs and employers currently bear the burden of these activities.
