LocationsPortal for reimbursement of maternity and parental leave compensation launched
Simplified and faster process for employers
November 21, 2024
UNDP/Duško Miljanić
Podgorica, November 21, 2024 – The Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care, and Demographics, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Montenegro, has introduced a Portal for Wage Compensation Refunds for Maternity and Parental Leave, enabling employers to submit refund requests more quickly and easily. The platform, available at www.porodiljsko.gov.me, will significantly reduce administrative burdens for companies and entrepreneurs, allowing them to claim their rights to refunds with just a few clicks.
Currently, an employer seeking wage compensation refunds for a mother or parent must obtain the necessary documentation from multiple state bodies (such as the Tax Administration, Ministry of Interior, and Health Services) for both the initial decision and monthly approvals. This involves submitting a request to the social work center with documentation at least 13 times for each individual parent.
The right to refunds during maternity and parental leave, though based on social insurance and employment relations, is processed through social work centers. These centers, despite being burdened with numerous social protection responsibilities and complex family law issues, have effectively managed refund operations.
“UNDP’s support for Montenegro’s development initiatives over nearly two decades has included efforts to build modern, advanced digital solutions that deliver tangible benefits to citizens and the business community. The comprehensive e-Social Information System, under which this portal was developed, serves as a model for implementing structural reforms that truly leave no one behind. As the backbone of the social protection sector, e-Social streamlines administrative processes, reduces duplication, and improves coordination across state bodies. These advancements save time and resources for both institutions and users, ensuring families, businesses, and institutions can access the social benefits more efficiently and with less effort. This system demonstrates how digital solutions can drive systemic change, directly improving communities’ daily lives and fostering a more responsive and user-friendly public administration,” stated Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro.
The portal is part of the e-Social Information System (known as the Social Welfare Information System or ISSS), one of the country’s most advanced digital platforms. Since 2015, over 1.4 million decisions have been issued through the system, disbursing approximately €1 billion. The system currently manages over 200,000 monthly payments to citizens. It is expected that this practical e-service will gain widespread interest and daily use among employers. This portal is just the first of several new e-services planned for the future. Last year alone, the Ministry responsible for social welfare allocated nearly €20 million for refunds benefiting over 30,000 users. On average, 2,519 mothers and fathers from the private sector and state-owned companies (excluding public administration) receive refunds monthly. This new e-service is projected to cut the time needed to process refund claims from over 40 hours to just a few hours.
Damir Gutić, Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care, and Demographics, emphasized that the portal simplifies the process for employers, reducing the need for at least 13 visits to the social work center to just a few clicks.
“The digitalization of the refund process will significantly ease operations not only for social work centers but also for colleagues in the Tax Administration and the Ministry of Interior, with the primary goal of supporting maternity, parenthood, and family care. Thanks to digital integration with other state bodies, employers will no longer need to provide certificates from the Tax Administration or extracts from the Ministry of Interior. Until healthcare digitalization is complete, employers will still need to submit a health certificate, but only for the initial approval”, stated Minister Gutić.
During discussions, it was noted that employers, including large companies, SMEs, and entrepreneurs, already operate with digital certificates, making the refund process through the portal straightforward. Employers agreed that this service would immediately and fully integrate into practice, relieving them of at least part of the bureaucratic workload.
