The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy stepped up support from 2023 to 2026. The team increased child allowances, allowances for parent caregivers, and pensions. They also expanded rights for persons with disabilities and civilian victims of war. Along with this, they bragged about other results of the ministry’s daily work.
Officials introduced a one-time support of 1,000 BAM for every newborn child. They also strengthened funding for safe houses. At the same time, they launched the development of social services across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, the Ministry drafted laws to regulate labor, employment, and social protection in the coming years.
They emphasized that the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy assumed office in April 2023. With that, he undertook responsibility for a portfolio whose decisions directly impact the lives of pensioners, workers, and the unemployed. These decisions also impact children, parents, persons with disabilities, civilian victims of war, and people in need of social protection support.
“Three years later, the results of the mandate can be seen in increased monthly entitlements, new services in local communities, and simpler processes for exercising certain rights. Part of the work remains before the Government and the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The laws prepared by the Ministry await the completion of the procedure there,” they emphasized.
The Ministry’s budget increased from about 292 million BAM at the beginning of the mandate to around 712 million BAM in 2026. Citizens’ rights received the majority of the funds. The 2026 budget plans to allocate 336 million BAM for persons with disabilities, 31.5 million BAM for civilian victims of war, and almost 59 million BAM for parent caregivers. At the same time, allocations for the federal child allowance have increased manifold, from 50 to 228 million BAM.
“Our work does not finish when we prepare a law or ensure money in the budget. The real result shows when a family reaches their right without unnecessary waiting. It shows when a person with disabilities no longer has to repeatedly prove a permanent condition. We see it when a pensioner feels a pension increase, and when support reaches a person right in their home. This mandate should be measured by that, as well as the work that still lies ahead of us,” stated the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Adnan Delić.
Child Allowance Increased to 195 BAM, Almost 100,000 Children Exercise the Right
The federal child allowance increased from 113.50 BAM to 195 BAM per month. Coverage has grown from about 70,000 to almost 100,000 children. Annual allocations for this purpose have increased from about 50 million BAM to more than 228 million BAM.
Amendments to the Law on Material Support to Families with Children have enabled entitlement to the allowance for children suffering from malignant diseases. Children with a 100% disability of the first group also qualify, without family income conditions. The obligation for parents to renew their application annually for the rights they are already using has also been abolished.
The Ministry finished a study on possible models of a universal child allowance. It also opened a discussion on how to support every child, with additional protection for low-income families. Once an executable model is established, the draft of corresponding amendments to the Law on Material Support to Families with Children will follow. The universal allowance has not yet been introduced, and it is the next policy’s aim.
1,000 BAM for a Newborn Child: Support for Around 40,000 Families
During its term, the Federation introduced a one-time support of 1,000 BAM for every newborn child. This measure covered approximately 40,000 families over the past three years.
To exercise this right, the Ministry developed the ePorodilja app. Via this app, parents submit a request electronically. This standardized support across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also simplified the process during a period when spending time with children is important.
The Ministry drafted the first Strategy of Demographic Recovery and the Development of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The document links parental support with the labor market and the accessibility of services for children. It also connects it to migration and the conditions under which families plan their future. The team finished the strategy, but the Parliament has not adopted it yet. However, the ministry launched the initiative to draft a law on parents’ rights and allowances. This law will regulate parents’ rights more transparently and uniformly.
Parent-Caregivers: 1,027 BAM Allowance with Contributions
The parent-caregivers allowance has increased from 619 BAM to 1,027 BAM, with the corresponding contributions included. Allocations for this right increased from 17.5 million BAM to almost 59 million BAM annually.
By mid-2026, more than 2,000 beneficiaries held this right. In the first six months of this mandate, all 1,500 backlog cases for parents who waited for decisions on the recognition of caregiver status were resolved. About 500 parents were newly introduced to the right. For all allowances, regular monthly payment dates were established. All beneficiaries now know exactly when funds will reach their accounts. This ended a long-term practice of inconsistent payment dates for child allowances, disability benefits, and other allowances.
In addition to increasing the allowance, the Ministry prepared amendments to the law. These expand the circle of family members eligible for this status and remove limitations connected to the child staying up to four hours in educational institutions. This legal solution specifically regulates the preservation of the parent-caregiver status while the child attends school or stays in an institution according to their needs.
Do not confuse these amendments with the allowance increase already in effect. Their full impact depends entirely on when Parliament finally adopts the law.
During the mandate, the Ministry supported parental houses for children suffering from malignant diseases. This enabled families to stay together during treatment. This year, the Government accepted the Ministry’s initiative to include a special transfer in its budget. Because of this, parental houses in Tuzla and Sarajevo will receive regular funding independent of public calls.
Pensions: New Adjustment Model and Valuation of Full Years of Service
The amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance changed the way of pension adjustment. Two new adjustments per year were introduced, according to a formula that follows the movement of consumer prices and wages.
The total pension increase in 2026 amounted to 15.08 percent. The new legal solutions more clearly value the length of service—the lowest pensions for people who were retired before the new law amount to 692 BAM. For new pensioners with 40 years of service, it is around 712 BAM. There are two different categories here, which is why the two amounts cannot be presented as a single lowest pension.
Pensioners can now work while retaining the right to a full pension if they choose to do so. The new rules extended the right to funeral expense reimbursements to the person who actually bore those costs. The Ministry also developed eKalkulator, a tool for estimating future pensions. At the same time, the administration completely abolished fees for issuing certain certificates and attestations from official registry records.
The budget of the pension system for 2026 amounts to approximately 4.421 billion BAM. The funds for the spa treatment and rehabilitation of pensioners were also increased, as well as support for the work of the Association of Pensioners’ Unions. A total of more than 2.1 million BAM was provided for spa treatment in 2026, while the budget for 2027 plans to raise that amount to 3 million BAM.
Persons with Disabilities: Higher Allowances and Abolished Mandatory Re-Examination for Children with Permanent Disabilities
During the term, the Parliament adopted the Law on Unified Principles and Framework of Material Support for Persons with Disabilities. This move finally broke a 14-year deadlock. They successfully increased the calculation bases for these rights. From 2026, the state will adjust these allowances twice a year. The budget for this area increased from approximately 142 million BAM in 2022 to 336 million BAM in 2026. Rights are exercised by around 60,000 beneficiaries.
A particularly important amendment abolished an obligatory re-examination at age 15 for children whose disability was determined as permanent. Families no longer have to repeat the procedure of proving a condition that has already been medically established as unchangeable.
The government adopted the Strategy for Improving the Rights and Positions of Persons with Disabilities for the Period 2025-2030. It includes accessibility, education, employment, independent living, and equal participation in society. The Ministry also prepared a new Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities. Its draft has already passed the first parliamentary circle and public discussions, while the final adoption remains pending.
Leadership announced upcoming support for organizations of persons with disabilities, community services, and programs enabling greater independence for beneficiaries. Public campaigns also raised critical issues of rights and accessibility. This included the prominent campaign with young athletes Ismail Barlov and Ismail Zulfić. Their message emphasized that strategies must go hand in hand with concrete budgets and real implementation.
Civilian Victims of War: The First Special Law
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina received its first Law on Protection of Civilian Victims of War. Among other things, it recognized rights for the first time for children born as a result of the war crime of rape. The Ministry worked with associations of civilian victims of war and organizations of children born in war to implement the law. They worked together to remove obstacles to exercising rights.
Calculation bases for allowances were increased, and 31.5 million BAM was secured in the 2026 budget for civilian victims of war. The amendments to the Law from 2026 envisage removing the citizenship condition. This condition presented an obstacle for certain civilian victims of war to exercise their rights, including the victims of wartime sexual violence living abroad. These amendments have not been adopted by Parliament yet and are still waiting their turn.
The Ministry also initiated activities for erecting the first monument to the victims of the war crime of rape in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The issue of a unified federal legal framework for the status of former camp detainees remains open.
Labor and Employment: Legal Student Work and a Reform Awaiting Adoption
Amendments to the Labor Law enabled legal work for full-time students. Young people can, in this way, gain work experience and earn income through legally regulated engagements without losing their student status.
A new Labor Law was prepared and submitted to the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The law has not been adopted yet. Its solutions encompass stronger protection of workers’ rights, making indefinite-term contracts the rule, and clearer regulation of working hours. It also covers breaks and rest periods, remote work, work via digital platforms, and the status of parents and foster parents. The text was prepared through consultations with trade unions, employers, and the expert public.
The Ministry also prepared a Law on Mediation in Employment and Social Security of Unemployed Persons. It envisages separating active job seekers from those listed on employment service registries primarily to exercise other rights.
After an earlier proposal did not receive the necessary support in Parliament, the Government in 2026 sent a new text into procedure. Legal solutions regarding the employment of foreigners were also improved to address labor shortages in some sectors while protecting the domestic labour market. The Employment Strategy was adopted, and the Action Plan for Youth Guarantee was also prepared. This plan is aimed at faster inclusion of young people into employment, education, or vocational training following completion of schooling or loss of employment.
Through employment support projects, cooperation with educational institutions, the economy, and international partners, the Ministry also worked on strengthening active employment measures. They focused on professional training and better connecting job seekers with employers.
Three Job Fairs and Permanent Digital Support for Employment
During its mandate, the Ministry organized three job fairs. The job fairs directly connected employers, job seekers, educational institutions, and labor market institutions.
The platform “Gledaj sebi posla” (Mind Your Own Business) was developed as a permanent tool for reviewing employment opportunities and useful information for job seekers.
The Ministry also supported other events connecting youth, employers, education, and innovation. These events covered discussions on first work experience, career changes, new technologies, and adapting regulations to the modern labor market.
In the field of occupational health and safety, efforts were made to raise awareness among both employers and workers regarding their obligations and rights. The Ministry publicly warned about the labour risks during extremely high and low temperatures. They called for the application of regulations and forwarded observed and reported irregularities to the competent inspection authorities.
Occupational health and safety was also a topic of cooperation with expert institutions, trade unions, employers, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Social Services Developed Across the Federation
The Ministry prepared the first Law on Social Services of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its draft was considered in the parliamentary procedure and public debate, but the law has not yet been finalized and adopted.
The law regulates types of services, quality standards, licensing of providers, and professional supervision, aimed at making support more accessible and uniform for citizens.
While the legal procedure is ongoing, about 15 million BAM was invested in the development of social services in the community. Funds were allocated through public calls and cooperation with local communities, centers for social work, institutions, and organizations across the Federation. Day centers, counseling services, and home care services were included in the supported initiatives, including support for families, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Such projects were developed in the cities and municipalities across the Federation, ranging from large urban areas to smaller local communities where similar support did not previously exist. The Ministry also invested in the infrastructure of the centers for social work, their equipment, and professional capacity building, along with training for staff who make daily decisions on rights and provide support to citizens.
The “Gerontodomaćice- Pomoć u kući” (Geriatric Caregivers – Home Care) program, worth about two million BAM, enables elderly individuals to receive free support in their homes. At the same time, it creates job opportunities for women trained to provide these services. The program was expanded in cooperation with municipalities and local service providers, and implemented through the Red Cross network of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Foster Care and Community Living
The Action Plan for Deinstitutionalization for the period 2025-2030 was adopted. It established the direction for developing support within families and local communities, ensuring that placement in an institution is not the first resort when appropriate support can be provided outside of it.
In the field of foster care, support centers for foster families were opened, educational programs and expert assistance were developed, and amendments to the Law on Foster Care were prepared. The Ministry collaborated directly with SOS Children’s Villages, UNICEF, and other partners working with children without parental care on the development of this system.
The regulations on professional work in social protection were prepared to more clearly define the status, responsibility, and protection of social workers and other experts. Work was also done on the legal regulation of psychological practice. The previous text did not receive the necessary parliamentary support, so that task remains open.
Investment in Social Protection Institutions
During the mandate, investments continued in the federal institutions. These were Pazarić, Drin, Bakovići, Ljubuški, and Hum. The workers renovated the facilities and the equipment. They also improved the living conditions for employees and developed new forms of support.
In Pazarić, the investment included the renovation of the kitchen and accommodation spaces. They also renovated other spaces and strengthened professional capacities. At the Drin institutions, the team developed new capacities. This included the facility in Urlenike. The Ministry also provided support to the Hum institutions. These institutions work with children at risk, just like other institutions under its jurisdiction.
Following the floods in 2024, the Ministry monitored the situation in affected institutions closely. This was especially important in Bakovići and Drin. The leadership participated in coordinating emergency aid and remediation. They also worked on the protection of beneficiaries so that the institutions could continue operating.
Investment in facilities went along with professional oversight. It also went along with the transformation process of the institutions. The long-term aim is for users to have higher-quality support in institutions. At the same time, this enables individuals to live with the support of family and community if they have that opportunity.
Safe Houses, SOS Helpline, and Support for Women after Violence
The annual support for safe houses increased from 250,000 BAM to one million BAM. The state secured a total of 100,000 BAM from the federal budget for the SOS helpline. They did this for the first time in 2026. The Ministry worked on a rulebook on minimum standards for the establishment and operation of safe houses. They did this to ensure that the quality of accommodation is better. It also ensures that professional assistance and the treatment of victims are more clearly regulated.
In addition to funding existing safe houses, the authorities supported the initiative for establishing a safe house in the West Herzegovina Canton. The Ministry also launched pilot programs. These programs focus on the economic empowerment of women after leaving safe houses. This is crucial because the ability to live independently represents an important component of permanent protection from violence.
Each year, the Ministry conducted its own activities within the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. Simultaneously, they joined the campaigns and events organized by safe houses and associations. They also joined events by other institutions. Through these activities, they raised questions regarding the reporting of violence and the availability of protection. They also focused on the situation of children exposed to it, and support for women after leaving shelters.
Social Card and Digital Records of All Payments
For the establishment of the Social Card of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the team prepared the methodology and the legal solution. They also prepared the IT systems and the method of interconnecting institutional data. The Ministry submitted the Law on Unified Methodology for Draft Social Cards to the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The IT department also developed the Integrated Social Register. This register serves as a foundation for higher-quality data on citizens’ needs.
In cooperation with the UNDP, the Ministry developed the eAward system. Its role does not end with electronic public calls and grant awards. Instead, the team is developing it as a unified database of beneficiaries. It tracks all payments made by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
This creates new conditions for more transparent records. It allows easier tracking of funds and better data integration. This leads to more efficient management of rights and programs within the domain of social protection.
Along with the eAward, the team developed ePorodilja, eKalkulator, and the “Gledaj sebi posla” platform. They also worked on a catalog of social rights and services. The Ministry’s website was updated, and information accessibility was improved. The team also updated registers important for citizens, professional workers, and employers.
Adopted Strategies, Council for Children Established
During the term, the Parliament adopted the Strategy for the Development of the Social and Child Protection System. They also adopted the Employment Strategy and the Strategy for Improving the Rights and Position of Persons with Disabilities. This happened alongside the Action Plan for Deinstitutionalization. The Ministry prepared the Strategy for Demographic Recovery and the Development of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the government has not yet adopted it. The authorities established the Council for Children of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time. It works as an inter-ministerial body to monitor the fulfillment of children’s rights and coordinate related policies.
The government also established Ministerial Coordination for the field of social policy. Through this body, the federal and cantonal ministries exchange experiences. They work together on harmonizing approaches to social protection.
During its term, the Ministry organized three professional conferences on the social protection systems. They served as a venue to discuss laws, services, and quality with field workers. They also discussed these topics with institutions, organizations, cantons, and international partners. The participants talked about the status of professional workers, beneficiary rights, and necessary system reforms. The Ministry also participated in numerous other expert gatherings. They joined public campaigns focusing on family, employment, foster care, disability, aging, and protection against violence.
Laws Awaiting Completion of Procedures
Alongside the laws that have already been enacted and implemented, a series of prepared regulations remains at the end of the mandate.
Among them are:
• The new Labor Law, submitted to the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• The Law on Mediation in Employment and Social Security of Unemployed Persons. Its new draft was submitted for re-adoption after an earlier version failed to receive necessary parliamentary support;
• The Law on Social Services of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also in its second round of adoption;
• The Law on Unified Methodology for Draft Social Cards;
• The Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, also in its second round, as well as the following two laws;
• Amendments to the Law on Foster Care;
• Amendments to Regulations on Parent Caregivers;
• Future amendments to the Law on Material Support to Families with Children. These will be prepared following the selection of a universal child allowance model;
• Regulations on professional work in social protection and psychological practice.
The Ministry also launched an initiative for a law on parental rights and allowances. This law would unify all parental rights into a single legal framework.
During its term, the Ministry received three consecutive positive audit opinions. In a sector where both the budget and the number of programs have expanded, responsible management of resources remains critical. It is just as important as securing them.
“Behind us are laws currently in effect, increased rights, and services that did not exist before. Ahead of us are laws to be adopted and reforms to be completed. We have an obligation toward the people this system serves to state both,” concluded Minister Delić.
