Serbia passes parental caregiver law granting monthly 65,000 dinar allowance

The Serbian parliament is set to consider the long‑awaited Law on Parents‑Caregivers, which would officially recognize parents who provide full‑time care for children with severe disabilities as employees.

The draft provides a monthly benefit of 65,000 dinars and requires contributors to pay pension, disability and health insurance contributions, giving the caregivers entitlement to pension, sick leave and other social security rights. Eligibility is limited to unemployed parents of children receiving the increased “tuđa njega” aid at 100 % disability on one basis or 70 % on two, excludes pensioners, and has drawn criticism for excluding many disabled children and for unclear provisions on leave, pension equivalence and eligibility of distant relatives.

The law has been championed by Minister Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski, who said it marks a historic step after more than a decade of advocacy, and is expected to take effect on 1 October 2023 if approved.