ZAGREB, 9 Feb 2022 - Social Policy Minister Josip Aladrović on Wednesday awarded 52 contracts worth HRK 29.8 million to associations that assist people with disabilities in the Zagreb area and northwestern Croatia.

Aladrović said these were the first of 135 contracts that would be signed with civil society associations across the country to finance 79 personal assistance programmes, 29 Croatian sign language interpreter/translator programmes, and 27 seeing companion programmes, "which will improve the everyday life of many of our citizens."

"We can change the perception of persons with disabilities together through concrete action, by ensuring the necessary social services, facilitating access to services and including them more equally in work and the life of the community", the minister said.

Under the new Social Welfare Act, the circle of persons entitled to caregiver status has been expanded, and allowances have been increased to HRK 4,500, adding that the hiring of persons with disabilities would also be increased through financing workshops and incentives in the labour market.

"This year alone, HRK 81 million has been invested in employment incentives and 1,109 persons with disabilities have been included, nearly 30% more than in 2020", Aladrović continued.

This year, the government will focus on two new bills, on inclusive allowance and on personal assistance, which is in Croatia's interest as a welfare state.

The minister also commented on the announcement by the Zagreb authorities that they will extend kindergarten hours to 9 pm with the help of EU funds. He said the government was already financing longer days in kindergartens via the EU Social Fund in many local communities.

"We support that decision and since kindergartens are in the remit of local authorities, we expect the City of Zagreb to do more and better", he added.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)

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ZAGREB, 20 Jan 2022 - The parliamentary opposition on Thursday strongly criticized a reformed set of social welfare bills, saying that the opinions of professionals have not been taken into account, that the system is being unnecessarily centralized, and that there might be long-term negative consequences.

Despite some improvements, the reform is going in the wrong direction and might have far-reaching negative consequences, and it is also contrary to everything professionals have said, Davorko Vidović of the Social Democrats' parliamentary club said in a debate on seven social welfare reform bills.

Anka Mrak Taritaš of GLAS said the aim of the bills should be making life easier for beneficiaries but that these bills were about form, not content.

Sandra Benčić of the Green-Left Bloc said two World Bank loans were taken out since 2003 for decentralizing services and reforming the social welfare system and that tens of millions of euros were absorbed from the EU for the same purpose.

What have been the effects of that and why is the course being drastically changed, she asked.

The ruling majority commended the reform, saying that it will result in a more efficient and more transparent system in the service of its beneficiaries.

The centralization refers only to administrative and legal affairs, Nada Murganić of the HDZ said, adding that the reform is timely as it envisages raising almost all allowances.

The guaranteed minimum allowance and the disability allowance are being raised while means' tests and other tests for persons with disabilities are being rescinded, said her colleague Vesna Bedaković.

Presenting the bills, Social Welfare Minister Josip Aladrović said the goal was to enhance the system's organization and coordination, strengthen social welfare centers, increase the availability of services, standardize action, and increase allowances.

"This set of bills is just the first step in improving the system in the long term," he added.

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