Serbia adopts parent‑caregiver law amid parliamentary debate

Minister Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski presented a draft law in the Serbian parliament granting a "parent‑caregiver" status to parents who look after children. The legislation treats the status as equivalent to employment, prohibiting parents from taking other work, and provides a monthly allowance, pension and disability insurance. Đurđević Stamenkovski said the measure protects parents in small towns without day‑care facilities and marks the first time parental rights are formally recognised.

Opposition leader Pavle Grbović announced he will vote for the law despite its shortcomings. He criticised the provision that the caregiver status ends at age 65, arguing it wrongly assumes a loss of capacity to provide care and conflicts with existing labor law. Grbović also cited budget constraints that limit the law's implementation. Both sides acknowledged the bill is imperfect but viewed it as a step toward easing life for some families.