Naslov
Social protection and inclusion policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis : Croatia

Autori
Bežovan, Gojko ; Šućur, Zoran ; Babić, Zdenko

Izvornik
European Social Policy Network

Vrsta, podvrsta
Ostale vrste radova, izvještaj

Godina
2021

Ključne riječi
social protection ; inclusion ; social policy ; anti-COVID-19 package ; civil society organisations ;

Sažetak
Between Monday 3 February 2020 and Sunday 18 April 2021, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100, 000 people was 6, 740 for the EU-27 as a whole ; in Croatia, it was 7, 859. The total number of deaths per 100, 000 people was 151 for the EU27, versus 167 in Croatia. The first anti- COVID-19 package adopted in March 2020 included support for preserving jobs and was implemented by the Croatian Employment Service (CES). In March 2020, government support to employers covered 100% of minimum net wages (€433) and associated health insurance and pension contributions (€195) per employee (€628 in total). In April 2020, the support was raised to €533 plus social security contributions (€195), thus reaching a total of €728 per employee. The two most important measures included support for preserving jobs and support for a short-time work scheme funded from the EU’s SURE programme. The highest number of employees covered was registered in March and April 2020 – around one third of the total number of employees according to labour force survey (LFS) data in 2020. The total disbursements related to job preservation and short-time work from the state budget in 2020 have been estimated at HRK 8 billion (€1.01 billion), and the latest available figures reveal that in the period March 2020 to March 2021 this figure exceeded HRK 10.2 billion (€1.36 billion). If a worker – under all types of contracts – has to be in isolation or self- isolation because they have the symptoms of COVID- 19 and/or meet certain epidemiological criteria (e.g. they have been in close contact with an infected person), they are entitled to sickness benefit. For sick leave caused by an occupational disease, sickness benefit is charged to the Croatian Institute of Health Insurance (CIHI) from the first day, and is based on the net average salary paid in the previous six months. All working parents (employed and self- employed) who have to take care of children or family members infected by the virus are entitled to the leave with sickness benefit or sick pay. The government established an institutional model of crisis management appropriate to the severity and urgency of the pandemic, which allows for rapid action in the event of an increase in the number of patients, as well as the realisation of the principles of effectiveness and proportionality. Related to housing support, banks (in co- ordination with the Ministry of Finance) offered models for citizens to defer payment of loan obligations, including housing loans, lasting up to six months. Provision for the homeless was left to engaged civil society organisations and local authorities. Debt and loan enforcement proceedings were suspended for all natural persons from 18 April to 19 October 2020. The COVID-19 crisis has, because of fewer available funds, negatively affected civil society organisations that provide services and other types of support to vulnerable social groups. The COVID-19 pandemic has barely influenced the structure and design of the Croatian social protection system at the national or local level. At the national level, no new measures of social protection have been introduced and no criteria of the existing programmes have been changed or adjusted. Local authorities reacted to the pandemic primarily by providing one-time financial assistance for the unemployed (those who worked and lost jobs) or by providing in-kind benefits. It can be stated that the government has mainly relied on support measures for the economy and for job preservation, and very little on new or modified measures of social protection. Even though the government measures have so far prevented unemployment from soaring, higher increases in unemployment may occur in the future, due to lay-offs, bankruptcies and the reluctance of many employers to hire additional employees due to uncertain economic prospects. In the next period, it is important to simplify procedures and access in relation to unemployment benefits, social assistance and other social benefit protection measures.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Socijalne djelatnosti, Interdisciplinarne humanističke znanosti, Kognitivna znanost (prirodne, tehničke, biomedicina i zdravstvo, društvene i humanističke znanosti)

POVEZANOST RADA