National youth program

Measure 3. TO ENCOURAGE AND SUBSIDIZE EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OF 
YOUNG PERSONS
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES:
DURATION OF 
IMPLEMENTATION:
3.1. To promote accessible subventions and deductions for employers 
employing young persons through different forms of informing and at 
professional conferences, gatherings and round tables.
2009 and ongoing
3.2. To examine the needs and possibilities and to design a program that 
would provide incentive to companies to cooperate with educational 
institutions, i.e. to design a volunteering system in institutions and 
companies.
2010 and ongoing
3.3. To introduce tax and other deductions for employment of persons 
under the age of 29.
2009

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3.4. To examine the needs and opportunities, and to design a project for 
macro regional entrepreneur incubator for young persons in Zagreb, Rijeka, 
Osijek and Split.
2010
3.5. To subsidize foundation of new trades/companies by establishing 
a guarantee fund for young persons, which would co-finance projects of 
young entrepreneurs under the age of 29 through credit lines, subsidies and 
non-refundable loans.
2010 and ongoing
CARRIER:
Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship
COLLABORATORS IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION:
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
Croatian Employment Service
Office for NGOs of the Government of the Republic of Croatia
Croatian Chamber of Economy
Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts
Croatian Employers’ Association
Croatian Agency for Small Enterprises (HAMAG)
units of local self-administration: Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Osijek
FUNDING:
Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship
REQUIRED FUNDING:
resources from regular activities of state administration bodies
IMPLEMENTATION 
INDICATORS:
− the scope of activities involving promotion and informing of 
employers
− the number of interested institutions and companies for 
volunteering of young persons and the number of young persons 
interested in volunteering in institutions and companies
− the number of newly employed persons under the age of 29
− drafted project of macro regional entrepreneur incubators for 
young persons
− the number of new trades/companies and the number of 
employees
− the number of co-financed projects

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3. SOCIAL POLICY
3.1. Analysis of the status of social youth policy
Under the notion of social youth policy we understand the system of directed social 
interventions (temporary and permanent mechanisms and support services) in the function 
of overcoming social risks, mitigating social inequalities, equalizing life opportunities and 
stimulating social solidarity and integration. The goals of these interventions are positive 
development and social inclusion of all young people, especially the groups requiring special 
attention and support.
Croatia shares some of the European trends related to position of young people in society. 
In Central and Eastern European countries during 90’s young people became the poorest 
population group, which is most commonly seen from the fact that young people do not own 
assets (property, savings and stocks), they find employment and apartments with difficulties 
and depend on their parents’ help. Basic determinants of the social position of the majority 
of young people and of the level of their inclusion are as follows: inclusion in educational 
or work process, family support, local community and peer groups. Young people leaving 
education before obtaining qualification are in a difficult position. They often fail to find job 
or they get employed in insecure, poorly paid and even risky jobs. Moreover, there is a tight 
connection between the social inclusion level, education and employment. Socially excluded 
young people do not have an appropriate access to education, and therefore employment 
for them is even more insecure, which often leads to life dependence, poverty and further 
exclusion.
Particularly vulnerable groups are young people without family support and young people 
without home – homeless persons. Quality life, inclusion in social processes and accumulation 
of capital are additionally difficult to youth living in areas remote from bigger centers (on 
islands, in villages and in small towns) where there is very little choice of education and 
employment and availability of information, organized events and services adapted to 
youth needs. Socially unfavourable position of youth is also linked to the problem of housing 
independence which is difficult to achieve. Difficult achievement of independence is caused 
by expensive apartments of private lessors, by the problem of unregistered lease agreements, 
inaccessibility of subsidies for housing expenses, scarce scope of social apartment construction, 
inaccessibility of stimulated apartment construction due to the poor credit ratings of youth, 
and the total amount of apartment construction costs.
Due to the high degree of family solidarity and long-term parent support, the majority of 
youth are not left on their own, which significantly mitigates social risks. But, not all families are 
able to support their young members. It is estimated that around 10% of Croatian population 
lives below the national poverty threshold. Youth from poor and dysfunctional families need 
greater social help in order to equalize their chances in education, employment and satisfying 
personal and family life.
Socioeconomic situation is especially difficult in war-stricken areas. A research of youth from 
the areas under special state care (Raboteg-Šarić and Rogić, 2002) indicated that as many as 

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29.1% of young people often or almost all the time worry whether their families will have 
enough sustenance. In the areas directly stricken by war there is a disintegration of community 
and a feeling of loss of its meaning, so young people live in the environment of separation and 
tensions. The issues of return of displaced persons and refugees, reconstruction and return of 
property, their employment, reintegration into society and the building of coexistence are 
everyday challenges for youth in these areas where economic activity is still of low intensity. 
The programs conducted by foreign and domestic non-governmental organizations, directed 
to economic revitalization and social integration, mitigate the consequences of war only to a 
certain degree. In these areas over one half of young people (55.6%) are unsatisfied with their 
lives, and as much as 50.2% of them would leave their homeland for better opportunities 
in education, employment and life (Raboteg-Šarić and Rogić, 2002). Unfortunately, young 
people from all parts of Croatia largely stated that they thought about emigrating if they 
had an opportunity (67% according to the research by Lugomer-Armano, Kamenov and 
Ljubotina, 2001).
The stated factors increase social vulnerability of young people, and probably also influence 
postponed foundation of families and parenthood. Social standard and modernization 
process require employment of both parents, and there are no satisfying accompanying social 
services that would enable this. There is a lack of education and support for young parents, 
especially those lacking positive family history and support, in developing adequate parenting 
skills and the way of coping with economic, professional and parental stress. Family centers as 
institutions founded by the Ministry of Family, Veterans’ Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity 
and counselling centers organized by various civil society organizations, institutions and local 
administration units, should contribute more significantly to the development of support 
services for young families. However, on one hand the problem is mutual co-operation of all 
institutions and, on the other hand, appropriate informing citizens about the existence and 
accessibility of these services.
In addition to everything stated above, some groups of young people are more socially 
excluded due to prejudice or break of their relations with family and community. In determining 
socially excluded groups, a problem of their recognition arises. Only for some groups there is 
a widely accepted recognition of their greater vulnerability and social risks they are exposed 
to, while only a small portion of public is aware of the marginalization of others. In public there 
are significant stereotypes, avoidance and/or fear regarding certain groups, which additionally 
increases their social exclusion (e.g. persons of minority sexual orientations, victims of 
commercial sexual exploitation, persons with AIDS, mental or other rare diseases, etc.). Young 
people also perceive social injustice reflected in unequal care of society for the poor, and 
in unequal opportunities for young people in smaller towns and in larger cities (Lugomer-
Armano, Kamenov and Ljubotina, 2001). Also, around one fourth of youth emphasizes the 
problem of nepotism, which makes social promotion and even the existence itself difficult for 
those without appropriate ‘‘connections and acquaintances’’ regardless of their abilities and 
expertise (Ilišin, 2007). Therefore, around 60% of young people expect the society to ensure 
equal opportunities in education and employment for all (Ilišin, 2007).
Of all national and ethnic minority groups in Croatia, the Roma undoubtedly have the most 
difficult social position, caused by a high level of social exclusion. Studies consistently show 
that Roma are ‘‘overrepresented’’ in all categories needing social protection: very poor, long-

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term unemployed, persons with no professional qualifications, uneducated, members of 
large families, persons with no residence, citizenship, etc. Therefore, Roma, especially young 
persons, must be given an opportunity to avoid the circle of poverty, discrimination and 
marginalization.
With the aim of improving life conditions of the Roma ethnic minority, the Government of the 
Republic of Croatia adopted the National Program for Roma and the Action Plan for the Decade 
of Roma Inclusion 2005 – 2015, which systematically try to help Roma, especially children and 
youth, in improving life conditions and their inclusion in the social life and decision-making 
processes, retaining at the same time their identity, tradition and culture. The National 
Program for Roma encompasses education area, retaining traditional culture, inclusion of 
Roma, especially children and youth, into social and political life, status issues, prevention 
of discrimination, health care, employment, social care, protection of family, maternity and 
youth, and spatial planning. Measures stipulated by the Action Plan will contribute to the 
elimination of long-term marginalization and discrimination of the Roma minority group, 
to the elimination of poverty, and in accordance with economic development, to a higher 
standard of living as well.
Because of everything stated above, there is a clear need for a thorough study based on reliable 
research of young people who are marginalized and stigmatized in Croatia. Without reliable 
information, the strategies and policies directed to these groups are often inappropriate and 
fail to meet their actual needs.
The direction in which the social role of every young person, moving on the continuum from 
the most valuable potential to the biggest problem, will be realized, depends on the ability of 
each community to provide, through formal and informal resources, the support to a young 
person and strengthen its potentials for successful coping with life challenges (Blažeka, 
Janković, Berc, 2003). Therefore, the position and future of youth, as well as their present and 
future level of inclusion and contribution to community, depend on appropriately directed 
and comprehensive social policy measures.