VIDOVIĆ: GOVERNMENT MEASURES AIM TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES WHENEVER HELP IS MOST NEEDED

The Government of Republika Srpska is there for families at every important stage of life: from birth, healthcare and social protection, education and growing up, to first employment, solving housing needs and medical treatment, that is, whenever help is most needed.

By Tatjana Parađina

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 13 /SRNA/ – The Ministry of Finance and the Government of Republika Srpska are strengthening the entity financially and building a system of support to help families live better, Minister of Finance Zora Vidović said.

Speaking about the "Srpska Loves You" campaign launched by the Office of the President of Republika Srpska to highlight concrete and systematic measures supporting families as the most important pillar of society, Vidović told the SRNA Media System that support for families and children from the Republika Srpska budget is provided through relevant ministries and institutions, including the Child Protection Fund, the Health Insurance Fund and the "Soul of the Children" Solidarity Fund, as well as through various family support programs and measures.

GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM

Vidović said the Government of Republika Srpska had significantly improved the child protection system in recent years, with particular emphasis on financial support for unemployed mothers and compensation for employed mothers during maternity leave, which is fully reimbursed.

"The budget rebalancing this year will provide the Child Protection Fund with BAM 53 million, an increase of BAM 8 million, or 18 per cent, compared with the amount planned at the beginning of the year," Vidović said.

She added that, under a Government decision and in line with the new Child Protection Act, the maternity allowance had been increased from BAM 406 to KM 746, an increase of 84 per cent.

"Based on data from last year, when this entitlement was used by 3,900 mothers, BAM 19 million was allocated in the budget, while an additional BAM 16 million has been provided annually for the new increase, bringing total allocations for this entitlement to more than BAM 35 million,” Vidović highlighted.

The Republika Srpska finance minister noted that the maternity allowance for unemployed mothers is paid for 12 months, and for twins, as well as third and subsequent children, for 18 months. She added that a special pronatalist allowance of BAM 600 is provided for the third child and BAM 450 for the fourth child.

She said support for families had been provided since 2023 under the Law on Support for Unemployed Parents with Four or More Children.

"Under the 2026 Republika Srpska budget rebalancing, BAM 74 million has been allocated, which is BAM 4 million more than originally planned for 2026. Individual payments have been increased from BAM 750 to BAM 800, and payments to more than 5,000 beneficiaries at the increased rate are expected to begin in mid-September," Vidović stressed.

In addition to expanding child protection entitlements, she added, Republika Srpska has in recent years also expanded and improved rights within the social protection system.

Amendments to the Social Protection Act introduced two new entitlements: a special allowance in addition to personal disability benefits and a special allowance for caring for a child with developmental disabilities or a person with a disability.

"Parents who are caregivers and who qualify for the new entitlement will receive the same amount provided under the Child Protection Act until the child reaches the age of 30, which currently stands at BAM 651, as well as all other social protection entitlements, including personal disability benefits, a special allowance in addition to personal disability benefits and an allowance for assistance and care by another person," Vidović specified.

According to her, around BAM 20 million in additional funding has been earmarked for these two new entitlements in this year's budget rebalancing, covering six months. The entitlements are administered through social welfare centers, with the first payments expected in mid-September.

MORE THAN 2,200 BABIES BORN THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION

"Particular attention is also being paid to pregnant women, mothers and couples facing infertility. Through the Health Insurance Fund, Republika Srpska finances three assisted reproduction procedures for couples seeking to have children, subject to the prescribed conditions.

Since this entitlement was introduced in 2007, more than 2,200 babies have been born as a result of assisted reproduction procedures, with more than BAM 42 million allocated for these procedures to date," Vidović pointed out.

The Child Protection Fund also provides BAM 500 in assistance for essential equipment for every newborn child, Vidović said, adding that children up to the age of 18 are exempt from co-payments for healthcare services covered by compulsory health insurance.

"The budget rebalancing has increased the transfer to the Health Insurance Fund for the special medicines program by BAM 15 million, or 19 per cent, bringing it to BAM 95 million. This year, BAM 16.5 million has been provided for the treatment of rare diseases with the most advanced therapies.

"For children, funding is provided for cochlear implants, hearing aids, insulin pump sensors for diabetes, medical devices, dental treatment and rehabilitation," Vidović pointed out.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OFFERS NUMEROUS ENTITLEMENTS PARENTS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF

From health insurance and free healthcare for children to treatment for serious and rare diseases, expensive therapies, medical devices and rehabilitation, as well as treatment abroad through the "Soul of Children" Solidarity Fund, the Republika Srpska healthcare system provides a wide range of entitlements that parents are often not sufficiently aware of, the finance minister said.

"The 'Soul of Children' Solidarity Fund has justified its existence. Since 2017, more than 3,600 approvals have been granted for the diagnosis and treatment of 1,300 children abroad, with more than BAM 45 million allocated for their treatment," Vidović said.

Under the amended Law on Compulsory Health Insurance, she added, parents in Republika Srpska are entitled to 30 days of sick leave to care for a sick child under the age of 15, while the entitlement for children over 15 has been increased to 14 days.

"This measure is very important for families where both parents are employed, as they can alternate taking leave from work, as well as for parents of children who undergo continuous treatment abroad, because they are now entitled to sick leave for the entire duration of treatment without having to appear before a medical commission," Vidović emphasized.

CHILD SUPPORT FUND ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT PARENTS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE CHILD SUPPORT

Vidović said the child support fund was also an important element of family support. It was established in Republika Srpska under the Law on Temporary Child Support and is administered through the Child Protection Fund.

"This mechanism is intended to protect the parent who supports a child but does not receive child support. Republika Srpska will assume this obligation, while parents who have acted irresponsibly towards their children will be required to repay the funds they owe to the Fund," she said.

SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION

Vidović said the Government of Republika Srpska had allocated BAM 442.4 million for primary education under the 2026 budget rebalancing, BAM 34 million more than in the adopted 2026 budget. A further BAM 156 million has been earmarked for secondary education, an increase of 6.5 per cent compared with the original budget.

At the same time, she added, BAM 140.7 million has been allocated for higher education, 8.5 per cent more than in the adopted 2026 budget.

"Under a Government decision, 80,000 primary school pupils will receive a one-off payment of BAM 100 each, while around 35,000 secondary school pupils will receive BAM 150 each, as will full-time university students in Republika Srpska.
A total of BAM 16 million will be allocated from the Republika Srpska budget for one-off support for primary and secondary school pupils and university students," Vidović stressed.

She reminded that this year the Government of Republika Srpska had provided free textbooks for primary school pupils, with around BAM 12 million allocated for the program. A further BAM 5.2 million is being allocated for pupil transport, around BAM 5.6 million for teaching assistants for children with developmental disabilities and BAM 20.5 million for staff working in extended-day programs.

"The Government of Republika Srpska, through the Public Child Protection Fund, is implementing a program to co-finance extended-day care in private preschool institutions. The subsidy amounts to BAM 200 per child per month," Vidović said.

She said support for preschool institutions in particularly underdeveloped local communities was especially important because it helped provide more equal conditions for the development and education of young children.

"This year, BAM 6.7 million has been allocated for investments in primary and secondary schools and student dormitories. Almost all schools in local communities are participating in the energy efficiency program. Among the most significant projects are the construction of the new Stevo Kaluđerčić Primary School in Istočno Novo Sarajevo, for which more than BAM 4.5 million has been allocated, and the reconstruction of Nikola Tesla Primary School in Derventa, in which around BAM 7 million has been invested," Vidović pointed out.

She also highlighted the extension of Petar Petrović Njegoš Primary School in Bileća, worth BAM 600,000, and the renovation of sanitary facilities at Nikola Tesla Electrotechnical School in Banja Luka, for which BAM 300,000 has been allocated.

She added that investments in higher education institutions and student accommodation were also important, particularly at the Faculty of Medicine in Foča and the Academy of Music in Istočno Sarajevo.

She said investments were also continuing at the University of Banja Luka, including the renovation of the Academy of Arts and the Student Support Centre for Students with Disabilities.

EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Regarding employment and housing for young people, the Republika Srpska finance minister said the Government had, together with the Employment Bureau, implemented various programs to co-finance youth employment and self-employment.

"In July, a public call was issued for youth employment through the economic support program for new employment, targeting young people aged 16 to 30 who are registered as unemployed. Young people also had the opportunity to receive subsidies through professional training programs during internships for those without work experience in their field.

"Young people who want to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses could apply for non-refundable grants of up to BAM 10,000 per person to launch a business," Vidović reminded.

INVESTMENT-DEVELOPMENT BANK AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE

According to Vidović, the Investment-Development Bank was also an important tool for supporting young people in recent years, through interest-rate subsidies and favorable housing loans.

"In line with Republika Srpska's pronatalist policy, the age limit for young married couples has been raised from 30 to 35. The group eligible for preferential terms has also been expanded to include all single parents and parents awarded custody, rather than only single parents with four or more children," Vidović stressed.

She said the maximum amount available for purchasing or building a first home had been increased to BAM 200,000, while up to BAM 100,000 is available for expanding existing housing space.

Interest rates have also been reduced, she said: for the preferential group, from 3.6 per cent to 2.49 per cent; for families with three children, from 4.0 to 2.99 per cent; for young married couples, from 3.0 to 2.99 per cent; for married couples with higher education qualifications, from 4.0 to 3.99 per cent; and for families with one or two children, from 4.2 to 3.99 per cent.

VAT REFUND ON FIRST HOME PURCHASE IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Vidović also said that the VAT refund mechanism for the purchase of a first home, introduced at the initiative of Republika Srpska, was particularly important for young people.

"Applications are currently being received by the Indirect Taxation Authority, on the basis of which decisions will be issued. The right to a refund applies to newly built apartments on which VAT has been paid and which were registered in the buyer's name after April 12, 2025, when amendments to the law came into force," Vidović said.

She stressed that buyers are entitled to a refund for up to 40 square meters, plus an additional 15 square meters for each member of the household who does not own property.

"All of the above shows that the Government of Republika Srpska is there for families at every important stage of life - from birth, healthcare and social protection, education and growing up, to first employment, housing and medical treatment, that is, whenever help is most needed.

Family is the pillar of society, which is why we stand with our families from the earliest age, creating favorable conditions for introducing new programs and implementing existing pronatalist measures in Republika Srpska," Republika Srpska Finance Minister Zora Vidović said in a statement to SRNA.