The Croatian government will increase foster care allowances as part of the reform of the social welfare system, in which it will invest about 80 million kuna (€10.6m), the Minister for Labour, Pension System, Family, and Social Policy, Josip Aladrovic, announced on Thursday.

“Foster care allowances will be increased by between 15 and 60 per cent, depending on the user group,” Aladrovic said in response to questions from the press after a cabinet meeting.

He said that the purpose of this measure was to encourage deinstitutionalisation of children and ensure better long-term integration into society for them.

Aladrovic said that the number of adopted children had doubled after his ministry had set up a commission to speed up the child adoption process.

The government today sent a set of seven bills relating to the welfare system reform for a second reading in Parliament, including the bill amending the Foster Care Act.