The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has presented the results of its work between 2023 and 2026, highlighting expanded social benefits, higher financial support for vulnerable groups and efforts to modernize the social protection system. During this period, the Ministry increased child allowances and support for parent caregivers, introduced a one time payment of 1,000 BAM for newborn children, and expanded assistance for pensioners, persons with disabilities and civilian victims of war. Its budget also grew substantially, from approximately 292 million BAM at the beginning of the mandate to around 712 million BAM in 2026.
Since taking office in April 2023, Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy Adnan Delić has overseen a broad set of changes affecting families, workers, pensioners and people who rely on public assistance. The Ministry’s presentation emphasized both measures already in effect and legislation that remains under review by the Government and Parliament of the Federation. While several reforms have resulted in increased payments and new services, other initiatives are still awaiting approval or further implementation.
One of the most significant changes concerns the federal child allowance. Monthly support increased from 113.50 BAM to 195 BAM, while the number of children receiving the benefit rose from approximately 70,000 to nearly 100,000. Annual funding expanded from around 50 million BAM to more than 228 million BAM. Changes to the relevant legislation also extended eligibility to children with malignant diseases and children with certain severe disabilities, without applying the usual family income conditions in those cases. The removal of annual renewal requirements for families already receiving support has also reduced some administrative burdens.
The Ministry has additionally explored the possibility of introducing a universal child allowance that would cover every child in the Federation, with additional assistance for families facing financial hardship. A study examining possible models has been completed, but the policy has not yet been introduced. Its implementation will depend on selecting a workable approach and preparing the necessary legal amendments.
Support for families with newborn children has also become a central part of the Ministry’s social policy. The Federation introduced a one time payment of 1,000 BAM for each newborn, reaching approximately 40,000 families over three years. To simplify access, the Ministry developed the ePorodilja platform, allowing parents to submit applications electronically rather than relying entirely on traditional administrative procedures.
Alongside the newborn payment, the Ministry prepared a demographic recovery strategy intended to connect family support with employment opportunities, access to childcare, migration trends and long term living conditions. However, the strategy has not yet completed the approval process. The Ministry has also initiated work on a broader law governing parental rights and allowances, with the aim of establishing a more consistent legal framework across the Federation.
Financial assistance for parent caregivers increased significantly during the mandate. The monthly allowance rose from 619 BAM to 1,027 BAM, including the corresponding contributions, while annual funding grew from 17.5 million to almost 59 million BAM. By mid 2026, more than 2,000 people were receiving this support. The Ministry also resolved a backlog of approximately 1,500 applications during the early part of its mandate and established more predictable payment schedules for beneficiaries.
Further legal changes have been prepared to expand eligibility for parent caregiver status and remove certain restrictions involving children who attend educational institutions for limited periods. These proposals remain separate from the allowance increase already in effect and still require legislative approval. The distinction is important because the financial benefit has already changed, while the proposed expansion of eligibility is not yet fully implemented.
Federation of BiH Social Benefits Expand Across Pensions and Disability Support
Pension policy has also undergone substantial changes. New rules introduced two annual pension adjustments based on a formula that takes account of wage and consumer price movements. The total pension increase in 2026 reached 15.08%, while the legislation also introduced clearer distinctions in minimum pension levels according to years of service and retirement status. Under the new arrangements, the lowest pensions for people who retired before the law changed amount to 692 BAM, while the minimum for new pensioners with 40 years of service is approximately 712 BAM.
Other changes affect pensioners’ ability to remain employed while receiving their full pension, reimbursement of funeral expenses and access to information about future pension entitlements. The Ministry introduced an online pension calculator and expanded support for rehabilitation and spa treatment. More than 2.1 million BAM was allocated for pensioners’ spa treatment in 2026, with a planned increase to 3 million BAM in the 2027 budget.
The Ministry also highlighted reforms affecting people with disabilities. A new law established a unified framework for financial support and ended a long period without major legislative progress in this area. The budget allocation for disability related benefits increased from approximately 142 million BAM in 2022 to 336 million BAM in 2026, with around 60,000 beneficiaries receiving support. The new framework also provides for twice yearly adjustments to benefits beginning in 2026.
One particularly significant change removed mandatory reassessments at age 15 for children whose disabilities have been established as permanent. The measure is intended to reduce repeated administrative procedures for families dealing with long term conditions. A broader strategy for improving the rights and position of persons with disabilities for 2025–2030 has also been adopted, addressing accessibility, education, employment, independent living and participation in society. A separate law on professional rehabilitation and employment is still moving through the legislative process.
For civilian victims of war, the Federation adopted its first dedicated law establishing a framework for protection and support. The legislation recognized rights for children born as a result of wartime rape, while funding for civilian victims of war reached 31.5 million BAM in the 2026 budget. Further amendments have been proposed to remove a citizenship requirement that can prevent some victims living abroad from accessing benefits. Those changes have not yet been adopted. The Ministry has also begun activities connected with the creation of a monument commemorating victims of wartime sexual violence.
Employment, Social Services and Digital Reforms Remain Priorities
Labor market reforms have focused on regulating student employment, strengthening workers’ rights and improving access to jobs. Amendments to the Labor Law enabled full time students to undertake legally regulated work while maintaining their student status. The Ministry has also prepared a new Labor Law covering employment contracts, working hours, rest periods, remote work, digital platform employment and protections for parents and foster parents. The proposal has been submitted to the Federation’s Government but has not yet become law.
Additional initiatives include a revised framework for employment mediation and unemployment related social security, improvements to rules governing foreign workers, and programs designed to help young people move into employment, education or vocational training. The Ministry organized three job fairs and developed the “Gledaj sebi posla” platform, which provides employment information and connects job seekers with opportunities. It also worked with employers, educational institutions, trade unions and international partners on vocational training and workplace safety.
Social services and community based support have formed another major part of the Ministry’s agenda. Around 15 million BAM was invested in services delivered within local communities, including day centers, counseling, home care and support for families, older people and persons with disabilities. The Ministry also expanded the “Gerontodomaćice, Pomoć u kući” home care program, worth approximately 2 million BAM, which provides assistance to older residents while creating employment opportunities for trained care workers.
A proposed Law on Social Services is intended to establish clearer standards for service providers, licensing and professional supervision. Although the draft has entered parliamentary discussion and public consultation, it has not yet been finalized. Meanwhile, investment continued in social work centers and federal institutions, including facilities in Pazarić, Drin, Bakovići, Ljubuški and Hum. These efforts have included building improvements, equipment upgrades and professional development, alongside a longer term shift toward providing more support within families and communities where possible.
The Ministry also increased funding for safe houses supporting women and children affected by violence. Annual assistance for safe houses rose from 250,000 BAM to 1 million BAM, and a dedicated 100,000 BAM was provided for the SOS helpline in the 2026 federal budget. Work has also focused on minimum standards for safe house operations and pilot programs supporting women’s economic independence after leaving shelters. The Ministry’s initiatives reflect a broader approach that treats access to safe accommodation, professional assistance and longer term support as connected parts of protection.
Digital services and improved administration have been another feature of the mandate. In addition to ePorodilja and the pension calculator, the Ministry developed the eAward system to improve the management of public calls, grants and records of payments. It has also worked on the Integrated Social Register and a proposed Social Card framework intended to improve the collection and coordination of information about citizens’ needs. These projects are designed to make benefit administration more transparent and help institutions track how public funds are distributed.
The Ministry’s presentation also identified legislation and reforms that remain unfinished. These include the new Labor Law, the Law on Social Services, the Social Card framework, amendments concerning parent caregivers and foster care, and the proposed law on professional rehabilitation and employment for people with disabilities. The universal child allowance and a unified legal framework for parental rights also remain future objectives rather than completed policies.
The results presented by the Ministry point to a period of expanded social spending and significant changes to benefit rules across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Higher allowances, new payments and expanded community services have affected a wide range of residents, while digital tools and legislative proposals aim to improve how support is delivered. At the same time, the growing budget and the number of programs make effective administration, transparent spending and consistent implementation increasingly important.
The next phase will depend in large part on the Government and Parliament completing the legislative procedures for reforms that are still pending. The difference between measures already in force and proposals awaiting adoption will remain central to assessing the Ministry’s overall record. For families, pensioners, workers and people relying on social protection, the practical value of the reforms will ultimately be measured not only by announced funding or new laws, but by whether assistance is accessible, reliable and sustained over time.
