Slovakia proposes new laws to combat truancy and benefit abuse

The Slovak Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family is submitting a legislative package to the government aimed at combating truancy and the misuse of social support. The proposed measures include addressing fictitious foster care and preventing the abuse of child benefits for foreign nationals from third countries who do not reside in Slovakia.

Under the new rules, if a child fails to attend school, a municipality may be designated as a special recipient of the child benefit for the first three months. The municipality would then decide how to use these funds for the benefit of the family. If the truancy persists, child benefit payments to the parents will be suspended for subsequent three-month periods until the situation is rectified.