Montenegrin municipalities seek delay in social protection law implementation

The Association of Municipalities of Montenegro has submitted an initiative to amend the Law on Social and Child Protection. The proposal requests that the implementation of specific provisions (Article 154, paragraphs 4 to 8) be postponed until January 1, 2028.

The initiative aims to provide municipalities with sufficient time to prepare high-quality annual plans for community life support and advisory services. The Association noted that recent regulations left an insufficient window for data collection, plan drafting, public discussions, and local assembly adoption.

Furthermore, the Association emphasized that these annual plans serve as the basis for local budget planning. Careful cost assessment is required, particularly in light of announced salary increases scheduled for January 2027. The goal of the delay is to ensure sustainable service delivery that meets citizen needs without administrative or financial strain.