Croatia is Raising Pensions and Supporting Mothers While Tourism Booms!
Are you ready for a revolution in Croatia’s pension system? The new pension insurance law, effective this Monday, brings a storm of changes! Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that pensioners will finally receive higher pensions, and mothers will be rewarded for every newborn or adopted child — up to a full year of work credit! Yes, you read that right — the state is finally recognizing the effort and sacrifice of mothers.
But that’s not all! The penalty for early retirement up to age 70 is abolished, a permanent annual pension supplement is introduced, and pensioners over 65 can work full-time without losing their pension. This is a true revolution in Croatia’s social policy!
Tourism in Croatia? Growing like never before!
While pensions rise, Croatian tourism is booming! In the first quarter of this year, 7.5 million visitors and over 29 million overnight stays were recorded, 4% more than last year. Tourism revenues jumped by 7%! The Prime Minister also announced a regular summer meeting with the tourism sector on Hvar on July 22, signaling more investments in this sector.
Craftsmanship is thriving — 75,000 new workshops!
Another great news — the number of craft workshops in Croatia increased by a whopping 75,000 during this government’s term! Just in the first six months of this year, 7,000 new craft workshops opened, employing over 100,000 people. The government supported craftsmen with direct payments and loans during the COVID and energy crises. A new craft law is expected by the end of the year.
Why does this matter?
The government’s goal is for the average total pension to reach around 1,000 euros by the end of the term, a huge leap for pensioners. Croatia’s EU membership brought 16.7 billion euros from the European budget, enabling financing of numerous development projects and strengthening the economy. All this together raises citizens’ quality of life and Croatia’s competitiveness.
Is this the end of pensioners’ struggles?
No wonder pensioners in neighboring countries are envious — in Belgrade, for example, many pensioners receive higher pensions than in some parts of Serbia. Croatia is now showing how to care for its elderly citizens, and mothers are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Conclusion?
Croatia is on the right path to becoming a country where it pays off to work, have children, and retire with dignity. Tourism is booming, craftsmanship is developing, and pensions are rising. Will other countries in the region follow this example or just watch from the sidelines?
What do you think about these changes? Is this the final end of pensioners’ woes or just the beginning? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and remember — retirement is not the end of life, but the start of a new adventure!
Source: Blic, Poslovni dnevnik
