First in Croatia: Grandparents to be paid for babysitting grandkids

A first for Croatia

Many families in Croatia rely on grandparents to help with childcare, and now the town of Samobor, just out of the capital Zagreb is taking things a step further.

As RTL reported, Samobor has become the first city or town in the country to offer financial compensation to grandparents who look after their grandchildren.

Starting in April, grandparents in Samobor who care for their grandchildren up to the age of four will receive a monthly allowance of €360.

The initiative aims to support pensioners with low incomes while strengthening family ties.

“We are focusing on the low pensions our retirees receive, and I am sure this will be a big help to their budget. At the same time, it allows them to spend more time with their grandchildren,” said Petra Škrobot, Mayor of Samobor.

Inspired by Sweden

The programme is based on a similar model in Sweden, where grandparents can be compensated for taking care of young children. In Samobor, they will even be able to receive the payment for multiple grandchildren.

Local residents have welcomed the move.

“This would be great for both grandparents and parents. It would make things easier for everyone,” said Jerko Kokorović.

“I think it’s a good idea that benefits both sides,” added Ružica Janko.

Could This Spread to the Rest of Croatia?

The Ministry of Demography supports the initiative, stating that if more cities adopt it, the government may consider introducing it on a national level.

However, other cities, including Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Osijek, have no plans to follow Samobor’s lead. Instead, they are focusing on expanding kindergarten capacity to ensure that all children have a place.

“There should be a priority to ensure that every child has a spot in kindergarten. We need to understand that kindergartens are educational institutions, while other forms of care, including grandparents, are more of a social service,” said Katarina Turković Gulin, president of the Sidro Educators’ Association.

The new measure will be available to grandparents caring for children up to the age of four, after which the children must attend kindergarten.

Applications for the monthly allowance open next Friday, with the first payments set to be made in April—just in time for the local elections.

Could this be the beginning of a new trend across Croatia? Time will tell.