Amendments to the Law on Financial Support for Families with Children

The key novelty of the amendments is that they expand on the financial benefit for pregnant mothers who are registered entrepreneurs and an additional basis for paid leave for the employed father of the child.

The amendments started to apply as of 1 August 2023.

Additional Grounds for Father’s Paid Leave in Case of Childbirth 

Employed fathers are entitled to paid leave for childcare and special childcare as well as salary compensation during the use of such leave if the mother of the child is a registered entrepreneur or has the status of an insured agricultural entrepreneur.

This right of paid leave can be used three months after the birth of the child.

The use of this paid leave right by the father means that the mother will lose the right to receive the so-called other remuneration.

Fathers can exercise this right for the remaining period up to one year of the child’s life (i.e. up to two years of the child’s life for the third and each subsequent child), but not before the mother became entitled to other remuneration.

The base for salary compensation for the father is determined based on the sum of the monthly salaries paid, for the last 18 months preceding the relevant moment for which the paid leave is used.

Decision on approving paid leave – employers are required to decide on the request received by the fathers in the previously mentioned cases and issue a resolution on approving paid leave if the necessary requirements are met.

The information in this document does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter and is provided for general informational purposes only.

By Milena Jaksic Papac, Partner, and Boris Radojcic, Senior Associate, Karanovic & Partners