Orbán cabinet: Hungarian family support policy is seen as a model

The Hungarian government’s family support policy is seen as a model and “a reference point” to be followed, Katalin Novák, the state secretary of the human resources ministry, said on Tuesday, summing up the recent 13th World Congress of Families in Verona.

Participants at the congress were primarily interested in learning about the scheme’s financing mechanism, Novák told public news channel M1, adding she had outlined the package of family support measures that parliament passed on Monday.

These include granting an interest-free general purpose loan up to 10 million forints (EUR 31,100) to married couples who commit to having children and expanding the preferential home purchase subsidy scheme to include resale homes.

The measures also include partially exempting families from mortgage repayments after the birth of their first child and granting up to 2.5 million forints for purchases of new, seven-passenger vehicles for families with at least three children.

The bill on personal income tax exemption for women with four children and payments to grandparent who undertake child care is expected to come before parliament in the second half of the year, she said, adding that the development of nurseries is ongoing.

She noted that the government will launch an information and awareness campaign the familiarise the general public with the measures.

In a separate interview, the state secretary told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio that

“I want to give as much support as possible to those in Hungary who are on the cusp of undertaking parenthood and to carers, as well as to families with up to two children.”

As regards the scheme’s financing, Novák said the diligence of Hungarians had provided its foundations, noting that the number of employed has risen by one million since 2010.

Source: MTI