Does the field recognize infant fees?

Parents of babies born this year are unlikely to receive benefits in the amount of 500 and 1.000 euros, despite the fact that the government promised it back in March 2022.

While the Government now claims that the money for the payment of benefits for newborns is not provided for in the budget rebalancing and that for this it is necessary to change the legal regulations, the Association of Parents reminds us of empty promises and double standards.

"We remind you that the key explanation from the Ministry of Finance and the Government is that the announced payment of benefits is illegal because it should have been paid from the budget reserve and, until it is specified by law and then the items in the budget are not foreseen, it cannot be legal. Today and yesterday, the representatives of the same ministry announced that for the payment of alimony from the Alimony Fund, the money for November and December will be paid from the budget reserve because it was not provided by the rebalancing. So, when it suits them, anything is possible," the president of the Parents' Association told "Vijesta". Kristina Mihailović.

She assessed that the authorities avoided and delayed announcing the decision that there would be no compensation, even though it was clear.

So, as she said, the government promised the parents in March that the payment would start in May, while in December they don't even know if there will ever be any money.

Mihailović explained that the initial idea was that the fees for this year would be paid from the current budget reserve, and later, through changes in the law, it would be a long-term form of support for parents. Mihailović pointed out that there is a fear that, if there are legal changes, parents of children born this year will be left without retroactive payment of those benefits.

She emphasized that the allowances for newborns are not theirs, but rather the Government's initiative, and that the Association tried to get information about it, but they always received meager answers.

Among other things, she said that they wrote a proposal for amendments to the Law on Social and Child Protection, in order to help the working group that will work on changes to several articles of that law. They also asked for the help of deputies, but they did not receive a response from any parliamentary club, including the women's club.

"The entire chain of decision-makers pretends to be ignorant," Mihailović pointed out.

Parents are thinking about organizing a protest and signing a petition, but Mihailović also pointed out that the only system for submitting petitions - ePetitions - is not functioning.

Minister of Finance Aleksandar Damjanović yesterday he did not answer "Vijesti" whether and when the parents of children born this year can receive the promised benefits, while this department previously announced that it would provide the funds as soon as the necessary legal changes are adopted. This department also announced that the previous government, despite proposing the payment of these benefits, did not provide funds for them in the 2022 budget.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare previously announced that a Working Group was formed to work on amendments to the Law on Social and Child Protection.

They have money for fuel and wages

The Association of Parents recalled the Government session, held on June 17, after which it was announced that "parents can rest easy, because the Government will fulfill its obligations and find a systemic solution for children".

While waiting for the promise to be fulfilled, the parents said that the budget rebalancing, instead of paying benefits, foresees an increase in wages for employees in the state administration by 22,5, and fuel expenses by 3,5 million euros. They also said that from the beginning of the year until September, 1,4 million was paid from the budget for compensation to former officials.