Healthcare shortages in Croatia and labor rights rulings in Italy

In Croatia, the Quarnero region is facing a critical shortage of nurses and healthcare technicians. This deficit is particularly impacting family medicine and home care services, which affects patients with disabilities and those recovering from surgery. Reports indicate that low wages and poor working conditions are making these roles less attractive; for instance, social care workers reportedly earn approximately 1,100 euros per month.

In Italy, the Court of Milan has raised a question of constitutionality regarding the exclusion of domestic workers from the ‘new maternity bonus’. The court ruled that denying this benefit—which provides monthly payments to employees in other sectors—violates the principle of equality and the obligation to protect motherhood. The judge noted that the exclusion also constitutes indirect discrimination against foreign workers, who make up the majority of the domestic labor force.