ZAGREB, Aug 24 (Hina) - Social welfare restrictions as suggested by the government would mean that only invalids of war with 50 or more percent disability would receive regular incomes, privileged pensions would decrease, as would
maternity compensation for working mothers, while the amount of child allowance would not change. These are the most important measures included in the draft social policy for the end of this year and the next year as discussed by the government at yesterday's session. The draft was presented to the public at today's news conference by a government team with Vice-Premier Zeljka Antunovic at the helm. Although there is no precise information at hand about how much would be saved up through restrictions, it has been estimated that about 600 to 700 million kuna could be socked away in the government budget. The rule that only war invalids with 50 or more percent disability
ZAGREB, Aug 24 (Hina) - Social welfare restrictions as suggested by
the government would mean that only invalids of war with 50 or more
percent disability would receive regular incomes, privileged
pensions would decrease, as would maternity compensation for
working mothers, while the amount of child allowance would not
change.
These are the most important measures included in the draft social
policy for the end of this year and the next year as discussed by the
government at yesterday's session. The draft was presented to the
public at today's news conference by a government team with Vice-
Premier Zeljka Antunovic at the helm.
Although there is no precise information at hand about how much
would be saved up through restrictions, it has been estimated that
about 600 to 700 million kuna could be socked away in the government
budget.
The rule that only war invalids with 50 or more percent disability
would be receiving incomes affects almost every other of the total
of 33,000 invalids in Croatia, Croatian Homeland Defence War
Veterans' Minister Ivica Pancic said. The measure would apply to
invalids of the Homeland war, World War Two, as well as civilians
who became invalids as result of the two wars.
We need to stop the current practice of creating an ever increasing
number of invalids, explained Pancic. "This practice needs to stop,
and all war invalids, 33,000 of them, must be reviewed under the new
law. There could be an increase in disability with some of them, but
also a decrease," Pancic said. He added it is impossible to specify
the number of war invalids who would be stripped of their rights.
The government also suggests that the basis for disability
compensation be one average salary in the country instead of the
current 160 percent of an average salary, that medical
participation fees be introduced, except for invalids with the
largest percentage of disability (80 or more percent), as well as
tax on pensions and incomes of war veterans.
Child allowances would not change this year, and the state would set
aside the envisaged 2.4 billion kuna. However, inspections would
increase, as a number of false documents and cases have been
observed. Inspections in Ploce and Metkovic, for example,
indicated that almost one half of 3,210 users of child welfare do
not have documents on residence.
Within the child allowance system, the government envisaged the
introduction of a property census, except for categories of
children with a high degree of disability, the children of war
invalids with a high degree of disability and killed soldiers.
Maternity compensation for working women would remain at its
current level, at 1,600 kuna (with children aged six to twelve
months), while mothers who do not work would receive compensation
also for six months, but decreased by 900 kuna. Another novelty is
that maternity leave for working mothers of up to three years be
rescinded (for twins, the third and every following child), and
criteria, as well as inspections for non-working mothers be
stricter.
Such mothers should have Croatian citizenship, live in Croatia for
at lest three years before their application, be registered with
the Employment Bureau for at least a year before the birth, etc.
The government has given up on its proposal on tax changes in the
pension system, so taxation would still only apply to pensions
above 2,500 kuna.
A bill on the highest privileged pension will be drawn up, while the
introduction of a mandatory health care package and changes in
participation fees are suggested.
Restrictions in the social sphere are aimed at preventing
accumulated social rights, for which a unified registry is
envisaged, by family and individual criteria.
Government officials stressed that the restrictions have not been
suggested only for financial effects, but to secure the principle
of fairness and efforts to have people who need it the most receive
social assistance.
The draft will be reviewed by social partners (employers and
unions) and other interested groups, so there could be some changes
to it, government officials say.
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