Employment Precarity and Parenting Leaves in Croatia

The chapter delves into the evolution of parenting leave policies in Croatia over the three decades (1990–2020), with a specific focus on addressing the challenges faced by parents in precarious employment situations. It aims to assess whether the ineligibility for leave benefits due to the growing instability and hybridisation of labour market statuses has garnered political attention and how it has been reflected in policy reforms. Using the ‘social construction of target population’ framework, the analysis reveals that leave policies in Croatia continue to revolve around the concept of a ‘typical’ worker in stable and secure employment, neglecting the needs of parents in precarious job situations. Additionally, it highlights that recent reforms—silent on the public agenda—have primarily aimed at further restricting their access to employment-based leave benefits, perpetuating inequalities in parental support.