Slovak Catholic Charity warns against cutting family allowances

The Slovak Catholic Charity (SKCH) and the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia have raised concerns regarding a proposed government plan to reduce family allowances for children with unexcused school absences. The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic is drafting legislation that would penalize families financially if a child misses school without justification.

SKCH warns that these sanctions may disproportionately affect children living in generational poverty and marginalized Roma communities. Experts argue that withdrawing income may not solve the underlying causes of absenteeism and could instead exacerbate existing social and material hardships. The organization noted that their feedback on the legislative proposal was not taken into account by the government.