Zagreb’s administration expands childcare facilities while phasing out a parental subsidy program amid demographic concerns.
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The green-red administration in Zagreb, since taking power in May 2021, has prioritized opening new kindergartens as a key policy to address Croatia’s severe demographic crisis. The vice mayor claims that under this administration, the number of children enrolled in municipal nurseries has increased from 30,000 to 33,000, creating more jobs. This contrasts with the previous administration’s “parent educators” program, which provided financial support to parents staying home, a measure the new government abolished, arguing it excluded women from the workforce and was too costly. Instead, the focus shifted to building necessary infrastructure for universal access to municipal nurseries. While Zagreb has invested significantly in these facilities, some children still lack spots. Compared to other European countries, Croatian costs for childcare are relatively low, but future challenges include a shortage of educators in kindergartens.
