by croatiaweek
August 12, 2025
in
From 1 January 2026, Croatian craftsmen will, for the first time, be able to continue running their own businesses, or obrt in Croatia, while also receiving a pension, the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (Hrvatska obrtnička komora – HOK) said in a statement on Tuesday.
This is a major change long advocated by the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.
An obrt in Croatia is a type of small business or sole proprietorship, essentially a craft or trade licence, that allows an individual to legally operate a business in their own name.
Until now, the rules have been restrictive. Craftsmen who reached the age of 65 and wanted to keep working in their trade were not entitled to receive their pension.
Those already retired who wished to register a craft business had to put their pension on hold. HOK repeatedly highlighted the unfairness of the situation, pointing out that retirees could take up other forms of employment – just not in their own craft.
Thanks to years of lobbying by HOK, the law will now change. From 1 January 2026, those receiving an old-age pension will be able to register a craft, and those already running a business will be able to continue after officially retiring.
They will be entitled to receive 50% of their pension without having to close their workshop.
“This is not just an administrative matter, but a significant boost for preserving craftsmanship and passing skills on to younger generations,” said HOK President Dalibor Kratohvil.
“It’s an important and well-deserved change for those who have spent decades building their craft, who want to stay active, share their knowledge, and also enjoy the pension they have earned. Recognising this right sends an important message – that the experience, work, and contribution of craftsmen are valuable even after formal retirement.”
HOK continues to push for further reform to allow pensioners in crafts to receive their full pension while still working, noting that the current 50% limit leaves them at a disadvantage.
The organisation argues that full pension rights would not only support retirees financially, but also benefit the state, as these active pensioners would continue paying taxes and contribute to raising the living standards of one of Croatia’s most vulnerable groups.