Opposition lawmaker calls Serbia's proposed parent-caregiver law a 'major fraud'

A proposed law in Serbia that would grant parent-caregiver status to parents of children with developmental disabilities is being called a "major fraud" by an opposition lawmaker. Tatjana Pašić of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) stated that the government's proposal would only benefit 3,270 parents, a fraction of the estimated 50,000 who care for such children.

Pašić explained that under the proposed law, only parents whose children receive increased "foreign care and assistance" would qualify. Additionally, these parents must not have any employment, either permanent or temporary, and cannot be retired. "This is a major fraud by the Serbian government," Pašić asserted in a statement.

The SSP has advocated for a law aligned with European practices for four years, Pašić noted. She criticized the current proposal for failing to provide genuine support to parents who dedicate 24 hours a day to caring for their children with disabilities. She highlighted that thousands of children with disabilities have not received increased foreign care and assistance due to complex procedures, ineffective commissions, and systemic issues within social protection.

"Status must follow the need for care, regardless of whether the parent is employed, unemployed, or retired," Pašić argued. "Care and attention for children with disabilities do not cease at age 65 or upon qualifying for a pension." She concluded that the proposed law amounts to "a law of humiliation and discrimination that neglects over 50,000 families living in silence, isolation, and often in poverty."

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zakon o ponižavanju i diskriminaciji kojim se zanemaruje više od 50.000 porodica koje žive u tišini, izolaciji, a mnogi i u nemaštini