The main topic of the article concerns the conditions for obtaining the right to old-age pension in Croatia, particularly regarding additional service time for parents who raised children. Current regulations require a minimum of 15 years of work service to qualify for old-age pension, and additional service time for children affects only the pension amount, not the eligibility for retirement. The Croatian Pensioners’ Union proposed legislative changes to allow additional child-related service time to count towards pension eligibility, but the proposal was not accepted. This situation raises questions about equality in recognizing unpaid work of women in family and social contexts, as mothers with multiple children often cannot accumulate sufficient work service due to childcare responsibilities. The topic is relevant in the context of demographic measures and plans to raise the retirement age in the EU.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the social justice aspect, highlighting the unfairness in the pension system that does not fully recognize the unpaid labor of mothers who raise children. They advocate for legislative changes to count additional child-related service time towards pension eligibility to support women and families, framing it as a necessary demographic and social policy measure.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the facts about the current pension regulations and the proposed changes without strong bias. They present the issue as a technical and legal matter, explaining the current rules and the implications of the proposed amendments, focusing on the balance between pension system sustainability and social fairness.
Right: Right-leaning sources may emphasize the importance of maintaining strict pension eligibility criteria to ensure the financial sustainability of the pension system. They might be cautious about expanding pension rights based on additional child-related service time, warning about potential increased costs and the need for personal responsibility in pension contributions.