Croatia to let delinquent parents repay child‑support debt with public work

The Croatian state paid child‑support benefits for more than 3,342 children last year, totalling about €4 million. Since the new Maintenance Law took effect on 1 January 2025, the agency has disbursed €8.685 million for 5,622 children, but only about 10 % of the debt owed by non‑paying parents has been recovered.

To improve recovery, the government plans to allow parents who cannot or will not repay the state‑advanced amounts to fulfill their obligation through public work. Proposed tasks include cleaning public spaces, assisting in elderly homes and health facilities, or other community‑service duties. Agency director Ivan Madunić said this would give indebted parents a way to “contribute to the child’s maintenance and return the debt the state paid.” Child‑rights advocates stress that the policy aims to protect children from the fallout of parental disputes.

The measure follows criticism that existing enforcement recovers only a small fraction of the owed support, leaving a financial burden on the state and risking the wellbeing of children who depend on these payments.