Croatian Employment Service, unemployed persons and other jobseekers
A person can register with the Croatian Employment Service as an unemployed person or as other jobseeker.
Unemployed persons are persons between 15 and 65 years of age who:
Are fully or partly capable to work,
Are not employed,
Are actively searching for a job,
Are available for work
Have not made monthly earnings gained from providing services according to special regulations or have not made monthly earnings, that is, other income in accordance with the income tax regulations, taking into account the data on paid obligatory insurance contributions received from the Central Registry of Affiliates, the amount of which is higher than the average unemployment benefit paid in the previous calendar year
Have not registered a trading company or other legal entity, that is, do not own more than a 25% share in a trading company or other legal entity
Are not members of a cooperative
Are not a president or members of the management board, neither executive chairman of a company nor director of a cooperative
Are not the owner of a registered handicraft, freelance business, farming or forestry business
Do not practise any craft work nor subsidiary occupation according to special regulations.
Are not private agriculture insurees according to the pension regulations
Are not employed according to special regulations
Are not pension beneficiaries (disability pension beneficiaries due to professional working disability, i.e. pension beneficiaries entitled to disability pension due to partial loss of work ability, as well as family pension beneficiaries, who do not receive the pension, are excluded).
Do not meet the conditions for old-age retirement
Are not entitled to extended pension insurance on the basis of fixed-term contract for permanent seasonal jobs
Are not diagnosed with temporary non-employability by the Centre for Professional Rehabilitation and
Are not regular pupils or students.
Other jobseekers can register at the Croatian Employment Service for the purpose of counselling and informing regarding their career development and mediation, even if they are not considered unemployed persons.
Other jobseekers cannot use unemployment entitlements.
Entitlements and obligations of unemployed persons
The entitlements and obligations of unemployed persons are regulated by the Act on Employment Mediation and Unemployment Rights (“Official Gazette No. 16/17) and the Employment Promotion Act (“Official Gazette Nos. 57/12, 120/12, 16/17) Entitlements
Entitlement to unemployment benefits during unemployment
Entitlement to pension insurance
Entitlement to one-time financial assistance and reimbursement of travel and relocation expenses
Entitlement to financial assistance and reimbursement of expenses during education and training period
Entitlement to financial assistance and reimbursement of expenses incurred during vocational training without commencing employment
Extended pension insurance beneficiaries are entitled to financial assistance based on the fixed-term employment contract for permanent seasonal jobs;
Obligations
Regular contacts with an employment counsellor at the appointed times
Attending individual counselling sessions
A professional job search plan with an assistance of employment counsellor and adhering to the activities from the plan
Submitting applications to employers and applying to job vacancies
Being available for work and accepting invitations of the HZZ for employment preparation activities and employment at the times established in the professional plan
Carrying out activities in order to prepare oneself for employment: participation in group counselling - workshops aimed at developing active job search skills and participation in the professional selection - selection for a specific job or training.
The realization of the right to unemployment benefit in the Republic of Croatia is regulated by the Act on Employment Mediation and Unemployment rights (“Official Gazette, No. 16/2017).
In order to realise the right to unemployment benefit in the Republic of Croatia, an unemployed person:
Must meet the condition regarding previous employment,
The employment relationship must not be terminated due to his or her fault or will / self-employment cannot cease without any justified reasons,
Must be registered with the competent local office of the Croatian Employment Service within the statutory deadline and apply for unemployment benefit.
Condition regarding previous employment
An unemployed person may acquire the right to unemployment benefit if he or she has at least 9 months of working relationship in the last 24 months at the time of the termination of employment or self-employment.
The time spent at work includes periods of compulsory insurance realised on the basis of employment in the Republic of Croatia and the time when the worker was temporarily incapable of work or used maternity, parental, adoptive or caretaker’s leave after termination of employment if, during that time, such worker received salary compensation under special regulations, i.e. periods of compulsory insurance under the pension insurance regulations realised on the basis of self-employment in the Republic of Croatia and the time when such person was temporarily unable to work, that is, used maternity, parental, adoptive or caretaker’s leave after the termination of his or her self-employment, if such person had received salary compensation under special regulations at that time and if employment contribution was paid.
The time which an unemployed person spent working in any of the EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, including Croatia, will be taken into account regarding the realisation of the said right in the Republic of Croatia.
Reasons for termination of employment or self-employment and realisation of rights
An unemployed person cannot acquire the right to unemployment benefit if his or her employment relationship has ceased:
When he or she terminated the employment relationship, except in case of extraordinary termination of the employment contract caused by the employer's conduct,
By mutual written agreement on the termination of employment (except if proposed by the employer, in case of collective disposal of surplus workers in accordance with the special regulation),
By a court settlement which established the termination of the employment relationship,
Because he or she has not successfully passed the probation or internship period or have not successfully and in a timely manner passed the state exam,
As a result of the infringement of obligations arising from employment (dismissal caused by inappropriate conduct on the part of the employee), as well as a serious infringement of working obligations (extraordinary dismissal) or official duties,
Due to imprisonment longer than three months.
An unemployed person cannot acquire the right to unemployment benefit if his or her self-employment was terminated without any justified reasons. Justified reasons are the following:
Insolvency or illiquidity,
Conclusion of bankruptcy proceedings,
Business at a loss,
Loss of business space,
Loss of the privilege or the license to carry out the activities prescribed by a special regulation,
Illness of an insured person in case of unemployment,
Loss of business partner,
Serious damage to property of the insured person in case of unemployment,
Natural disasters and catastrophes caused by force majeure,
Other reasons that prove to be justified.
The right to unemployment benefit shall not be acquired by an unemployed person who would be entitled to this right after the termination of employment or self-employment if the employment relationship or self-employment lasted less than three months and the previous employment relationship or self-employment ceased in any of the above-mentioned ways.
Deadline for submitting the application and request
In order to exercise the right to unemployment benefit, an unemployed person must register with the Croatian Employment Service within 30 days of the termination of employment or self-employment and apply for the unemployment benefit.
If an unemployed person was on sick leave, i.e. maternity, parental, adoptive parents’ or caretaker’s leave after the termination of his or her employment or self-employment, such person must apply within 30 days of the termination of one of these circumstances.
An unemployed person should register and submit the request at the local office of the Croatian Employment Service in his or her registered place of permanent or temporary residence.
The amount of cash benefit
The amount of cash benefit upon employment termination depends on the salary a person has made before the termination of the employment relationship because the basis for determining the amount of unemployment benefit is the average of gross salary earned in the quarter preceding the termination of employment or service.
The amount of cash benefit upon self-employment termination depends on the basis for which the contributions for compulsory insurance have been calculated and paid, in the quarter preceding the self-employment termination.
Unemployment benefit for the first 90 days of use amounts to 60%, and for the remaining period amounts to 30% of the basis.
The lowest and the highest amount of unemployment benefit is prescribed.
The highest amount of unemployment benefit depends on the average salary paid in the Croatian economy in the previous year, and the unemployment benefit for the first 90 days of use cannot exceed 70% and for the remaining time of use may not exceed 35% of this salary.
The lowest amount of unemployment benefit depends on the minimum salary in the Republic of Croatia reduced by contributions for compulsory insurance, and the unemployment benefit may not be less than 50% of this salary.
Duration of cash benefit
The right to unemployment benefit can be realized for a period of 90 to 450 days, depending on the total time spent at work by an unemployed person.
90 days if an unemployed person has worked within the period from 9 months to 2 years,
120 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 2 years,
150 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 3 years,
180 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 4 years,
210 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 5 years,
240 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 6 years,
270 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 7 years,
300 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 8 years,
330 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 9 years,
360 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 10 years,
390 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 15 years,
420 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 20 years,
450 days if an unemployed person has worked more than 25 years.
There is an exception to this rule:
If an unemployed person has worked for 32 years and has 5 more years until meeting the age limit for acquiring the right to an old-age pension, such person is entitled to an unemployment benefit until his or her re-employment or until the occurrence of any other circumstances causing the termination of the right to unemployment benefit. To determine the duration of the right to an unemployment benefit, the time an unemployed person has spent working in any EU Member State, including Croatia, will be taken into account.
More info is available on the website of the Croatian Employment Service http://www.hzz.hr
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
You acquire the right to unemployment benefit if you have at least 9 months of working relationship in the last 24 months at the time of the termination of your employment or self-employment. In order to realise that right in the Republic of Croatia (or other Member States of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland), the time you have spent working in any of the Member States of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland will be taken into account. For example, if you have worked in the Republic of Croatia for 4 months, and before that you have worked for 5 months in any other EU Member State, when determining the right to unemployment benefit, the time you spent working in both states will be taken into account. Periods of work in other states (as well as other data important for the realisation of the right to unemployment benefit, e.g. the reason for employment termination, salary amounts ...) are confirmed by the PD U1 form issued by the employment agency/service of the state in which work was performed. If you are unable to obtain the U1 form yourself, the Croatian Employment Service shall obtain the necessary documentation from the competent institutes by official means.
In order to be able to exercise the right to an unemployment benefit, the employment relationship must not cease due to your fault or with your consent. You cannot acquire the right to unemployment benefit if your employment relationship has ceased: • When you terminated the employment relationship, except in case of extraordinary termination of the employment contract caused by the employer's conduct, • By mutual written agreement on the termination of employment (except if proposed by the employer, in case of collective disposal of surplus workers in accordance with the special regulation), • By a court settlement which established the termination of the employment relationship, • Because you have not successfully passed the probation or internship period or have not successfully and in a timely manner passed the state exam, • As a result of the infringement of obligations arising from employment (dismissal caused by inappropriate conduct on the part of the employee), as well as a serious infringement of working obligations (extraordinary dismissal) or official duties, • Due to imprisonment longer than three months. You cannot acquire the right to unemployment benefit if your self-employment was terminated without any justified reasons. Justified reasons are the following: • Insolvency or illiquidity, • Conclusion of bankruptcy proceedings, • Business at a loss, • Loss of business space, • Loss of the privilege or the license to carry out the activities prescribed by a special regulation, • Illness of an insured person in case of unemployment, • Loss of business partner, • Serious damage to property of the insured person in case of unemployment, • Natural disasters and catastrophes caused by force majeure, • Other reasons that prove to be justified. The right to unemployment benefit shall not be acquired by an unemployed person who would be entitled to this right after the termination of employment or self-employment if the employment relationship or self-employment lasted less than three months and the previous employment relationship or self-employment ceased in any of the above-mentioned ways.
In order to exercise the right to unemployment benefit, you must register with the Croatian Employment Service within 30 days of the termination of employment or self-employment and apply for the unemployment benefit. If you were on sick leave, i.e. maternity, parental, adoptive parents’ or caretaker’s leave after the termination of your employment or self-employment, you must apply within 30 days of the termination of one of these circumstances. You register and submit the request at the local office of the Croatian Employment Service in your registered place of permanent or temporary residence.
The amount of your cash benefit depends on the salary you made before the termination of the employment relationship because the basis for determining the amount of unemployment benefit is the average of gross salary earned in the quarter preceding the termination of employment or service. Unemployment benefit for the first 90 days of use amounts to 60%, and for the remaining period amounts to 30% of the basis. The lowest and the highest amount of unemployment benefit is prescribed. The highest amount of unemployment benefit depends on the average salary paid in the Croatian economy in the previous year, and the unemployment benefit for the first 90 days of use cannot exceed 70% and for the remaining time of use may not exceed 35% of this salary. The lowest amount of unemployment benefit depends on the minimum salary in the Republic of Croatia reduced by contributions for compulsory insurance, and the unemployment benefit may not be less than 50% of this salary.
The right to unemployment benefit can be realized for a period of 90 to 450 days, depending on the total time you have spent at work. • 90 days if you have worked within the period from 9 months to 2 years, • 120 days if you have worked more than 2 years, • 150 days if you have worked more than 3 years, • 180 days if you have worked more than 4 years, • 210 days if you have worked more than 5 years, • 240 days if you have worked more than 6 years, • 270 days if you have worked more than 7 years, • 300 days if you have worked more than 8 years, • 330 days if you have worked more than 9 years, • 360 days if you have worked more than 10 years, • 390 days if you have worked more than 15 years, • 420 days if you have worked more than 20 years, • 450 days if you have worked more than 25 years. There is an exception to this rule: If you have worked for 32 years and you have 5 more years until you meet the age limit for acquiring the right to an old-age pension, you are entitled to an unemployment benefit until your re-employment or until the occurrence of any other circumstances causing the termination of the right to unemployment benefit. To determine the duration of the right to an unemployment benefit, the time you have spent working in any EU Member State, including Croatia, will be taken into account.
If you need proof of completed periods of employment or self-employment in the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of exercising your right to an unemployment benefit in another EU Member State, you can submit an application for the issuance of U1 (PD U1) transfer form in any regional/local office of the Croatian Employment Service, or by sending an e-mail to eukoordinacija@hzz.hr. In addition to a personally-signed application submitted by e-mail, a copy of your ID card or passport must be enclosed.
If you exercise the right to unemployment benefit in the Republic of Croatia and you decide to look for a job in another Member State of the European Union, you can retain your benefit for a maximum of three months if you meet the following conditions: • You must be registered at the Croatian Employment Service as an unemployed person for at least 4 weeks after you became unemployed, • You must notify the Croatian Employment Service of your departure and ask for the issuance of the U2 form, • You must register at the employment service of the country in which you are seeking employment within 7 days from the date you ceased to be available to the Croatian Employment Service, • You must actively look for a job and be available for work in that country. If you meet the requirement regarding 4 weeks registration as an unemployed person at the Croatian Employment Service, the Croatian Employment Service will issue a U2 (PD U2) document upon your request. The U2 form proves to the employment service of the country in which you are seeking employment that the export of your unemployment benefit has been approved. The application for the issuance of the said U2 transfer document is submitted to the regional/local office of the Croatian Employment Service in which you are registered. The Croatian Employment Service will continue to pay your unemployment benefit directly to your bank account in the amount established in the Republic of Croatia, but only if the employment service of the State in which you seek employment notifies the Croatian Employment Service, by means of official form (U013), whether you regularly sign up and meet all the requirements regarding active job search and availability.
