Hungarian Families Welcome Measures Supporting Childrearing – Press Conference at the BabaMama Expo
This year again, more than ten thousand visitors attended Hungary’s largest family event, the 18th BabaMama Expo, where the Mária Kopp Institute participated jointly with the Association of Hungarian Health Visitors, the Family-Friendly Hungary Centre, and the Parents’ House Foundation. Nearly one thousand people completed KINCS’s online questionnaire on site, the results of which were presented by Tünde Fűrész, President of KINCS, at a press conference held at the institute’s stand, while Zsófia Koncz reported on the latest family support opportunities.
The State Secretary for Families emphasized that 2025 is the year of families, as an unprecedented level of support is now available for couples planning to start a family. Dr. Zsófia Koncz recalled that on 1 July the largest family tax reduction programme in Europe was launched, under which the family tax allowance was increased by one and a half times, the infant care fee (CSED) and the child care fee (GYED) became exempt from personal income tax, and from 1 October all mothers with three children are also entitled to PIT exemption. In just 38 days, further family tax reductions will enter into force: the family tax allowance will increase by an additional 50 per cent, and mothers under the age of 40 with two children will also become exempt from personal income tax.
Tünde Fűrész presented the results of KINCS’s latest online questionnaire conducted among the participants of the BabaMama Expo, completed by nearly one thousand mothers and fathers with young children. The President of the Mária Kopp Institute pointed out that parents of young children welcome all opportunities that specifically support pregnancy and the period of childrearing. The survey clearly shows that parents are well informed about the support options available to them. The most popular form of support continues to be the Baby Expecting Subsidy, with every second respondent stating that they have utilised this opportunity. In addition, the CSED and GYED are also popular, and many families aim to take advantage of the available home creation programmes.
Judit Regős highlighted that nursery care services and family protection have developed significantly over the past 15 years. As a result, Parents’ House colleagues now welcome the youngest children at nearly ten family and workplace nurseries nationwide. This greatly contributes to enabling families to achieve a balance between work and private life, the President of the Foundation emphasized.
Marianna Várfalvi noted that the health visitor service is available free of charge in every municipality in Hungary and consistently focuses on issues where families need the most support. The President of the Association of Hungarian Health Visitors reported that during the BabaMama Expo they provided presentations and consultations on a wide range of topics, including information on changes during pregnancy, nutritional counselling, and first aid skills. The latter proved especially popular, as many parents are eager to learn the techniques and practices that enable them to assist their baby effectively in emergency situations.
Andrea Bartos, Managing Director of the Family-Friendly Hungary Centre, highlighted that the renewed csalad.hu website provides all information related to family support in one place, and the Family Support Calculator shows — with just a few clicks — which forms of benefit a family may be eligible for in different life situations.
