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BELGRADE – The Hungarian model of measures to help the family, which the national authorities have already considered and taken as a model, could also help Serbia in population policy, estimates the portal “Demostat” in the latest analysis.
Tax exemptions for mothers of four or more children, loans for subsidized housing that couples do not have to repay if they have a third child, full pay compensation during maternity leave, and the possibility of sick leave for grandparents who take care of children are some of the measures taken by the Hungarian government. trying to increase the birth rate.
“When we look at the Hungarian program, the first thing we notice is that they have allocated 4.8 percent of GDP for birth incentives and family support, which is significantly more money than our state invests in these programs. Some of that money from the Hungarian budget goes to social work centers, which is not directly related to the birth rate, but I still don’t know how realistic it is to set aside similar amounts of money for this purpose in our country “, says Milica Vesković Andjelković, sociologist at the Institute of Sociological Research.
“So far, we have allocated 650 million dinars from the budget, specifically for the Demographic Cabinet, which was redirected to local governments to use in their programs, and that is not enough. We will see very soon, when a new government is formed, If that Cabinet survives, will the new government announce additional measures to boost the birth rate, and on that basis we will be able to assess to what extent the issue of children and families is considered a real problem in Serbia? added.
“I don’t know how much the loan measure would work in our country because it depends on many other factors. State housing can be just as effective, but for now I think empowering women in the field of labor rights – equalizing the benefits of the license maternity with salary – “Very important. Also, our respondents show that the support of older generations would mean a lot to them, “he said.
“Research on intergenerational solidarity showed that many more families would have decided to have another child if they had had more help than grandparents … This was also recognized by Hungary and they introduced the possibility that grandparents who are still employed take leave from work to look after the grandchildren, “declared Vesković Andjelković.
“Regardless of the composition of the new government, demography must have its place, which began in the previous legislature. Activities related to demography and population policy will not change because the State has already begun to work on the implementation of measures and they are working. ” , believes Slavica Đukić Dejanović, outgoing minister without a portfolio for demographics and population policy.
“In 2019, when the changes in this area began, we were the only country in the region, out of 10 countries, to register a higher number of newborns compared to the previous year at 424 children. This is a small change, for the Demographers and It doesn’t mean much to statisticians, but it still tells us that applying measures brings some results, “he added.
Commenting on the criticisms that the “family policy” led by the Orban government has a nationalistic and conservative orientation because it insists on marital union and is very restrictive towards migrants, Djukic Dejanovic points out that there is a difference in Serbia and that we are more liberal in some measures.
“In our country, couples who undergo in vitro fertilization do not have to be in a formal marriage union, as is the case in Hungary. Tradition and the promotion of marital status are typical of them, and this follows from the data that the number of marriages in January 2019 jumped 103 percent compared to 2018. It is obvious that these measures are giving them results, “he said.
(Kurir.rs/Beta)
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