Social security in Croatia is divided into three main branches: pension, health, and unemployment insurance. It is funded by employees, self-employed persons, employers, and the state.
In 2010, employees and self-employed contributed 15% of their earnings to general health insurance, 0.5% to work-related accident insurance and 1.7% to unemployment insurance. Contributions only have to be paid on income above 2,400 Kuna per month and are capped at an income level of 41,850 Kuna.
Foreign citizens may procure a health insurance policy from the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO ) in the following way:
Foreigners on temporary stay who are not registered with public health insurance have to acquire private health care for themselves and the members of their families.
All Croatian employees are entitled to unemployment benefits if they are between 15 and 65, with at least 9 months of employment in the past 24 months. They must register with the Employment Institute within the first 30 days of being unemployed.
Depending on the duration of the employment, the benefit is to be paid for 90 to 450 days, with an additional lump sum of 2, 4, or 6 monthly unemployment benefits. Older employees are exempt for the rule if they have spent 32 years working and have less than 5 years left until they are suitable for old-age pension. They are entitled to unemployment benefit until they gain new employment or retire.
Benefits are denied to any person whose employment was brought to an end voluntarily or due to misconduct.
Benefits depend on the worker's average wage received over the previous three months before the contract was terminated and range from 976 Kuna to 1200 Kuna.
Mandatory parental leave for mothers begins 28 days before the expected date of childbirth and continues at least up to 42 days after childbirth. After the 42nd day the father can opt to take parental leave in place of the mother.
The leave period is mandatory until the child is 6 months old and may be extended until the child is 1 year old. This rule applies to the first and second child. It is extended to 30 months for twins, for a third child and any subsequent children. The monthly benefit is equal to 100% of the worker's earnings with a minimum of 1,663 Kuna a month.
If you contribute to the social security pension in any of the following countries, you will be exempt from making further contributions to Croatia:
The latest country to sign the agreement on the 12th of June 2006, has been Turkey. Negotiations are underway for agreements with Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and Romania.