Poland
Background information on industrial relations in Poland
- 19 Dec 2002
Poland: Inter-union cooperation in multinationals<#PDF_LINK>Polish trade unions have problems in articulating the relations between different levels of their organisation (workplace, regional/branch and national), exacerbated by the political rift between the two major union organisations, NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ. In 2002, there have been a number of attempts by unions to formulate joint positions and pursue mutual interests, but these generally continue to be of a half-hearted and strictly ad hoc nature. However, the increasing presence of multinational companies in Poland has raised a need for closer cooperation between local union bodies in these multinationals' Polish operations, especially where there is a European Works Council in place. This article examines the state of inter-union cooperation and examines the case of an innovative joint trade union representation body at the Żywiec brewery group, owned by Heineken.
- 19 Dec 2002
Poland: New nationwide trade union centre established<#PDF_LINK>2002 has seen the creation of a new nationwide trade union organisation in Poland, alongside the two main existing centres, NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ. The Trade Unions Forum (FZZ) has its roots in a number of organisations which split from OPZZ, and now has 36 affiliates. The new body's membership exceeds 300,000, the threshold for representation on the national Tripartite Commission, and it is thus seeking a Commission seat alongside NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ.
- 05 Dec 2002
Poland: Government increases contributions to Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund<#PDF_LINK>In late 2002, the Polish government decided to increase employers' contributions to the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, which is used to cover the wage arrears due to the employees of bankrupt businesses. The most recent control performed by the Social Insurance Institution found that the Fund is not properly managed and is almost empty.
- 04 Dec 2002
Poland: Protests continue at closed Ozarów cable plant<#PDF_LINK>In November 2002, a workers' blockade of a shut down cable manufacturing plant in Ozarów, Poland, was broken after more than six months by the factory's owner, Tele-Fonika. The company used a private security agency to clear access to the factory and allow machinery to be removed, and the police intervened when violence flared. However, it seems that the redundant workers' protests are continuing.
- 04 Dec 2002
Poland: Wroclaw hospital employees protest over unpaid wages<#PDF_LINK>In November 2002, a number of employees of the debt-ridden Rydygier hospital in Wroclaw, Poland, launched a hunger strike aimed at obtaining the payment of wages, which had not been paid since September. The hunger strike was followed by high-profile street protests. Politicians at the regional and national level stepped in to try to calm the conflict, but the hunger strike has continued.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: New rules to tackle gender discrimination at work<#PDF_LINK>Despite a long-standing prohibition of gender-based discrimination at work in Poland, the evidence indicates that discrimination against women remains widespread, while it has been very difficult for victims of discrimination to seek legal redress. Amendments made to the Labour Code in 2002 seek to tackle these problems, including by making it easier to bring court cases.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: New minimum wage legislation criticised by unions<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the Polish parliament passed a new law on the minimum wage, which should come into force in early 2003. The new legislation increases the minimum wage, amends the way in which it is set, and sets a lower rate for recent school-leavers. The trade unions have been very critical of the new provisions.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: Labour costs analysed<#PDF_LINK>Labour costs in Poland account for a relatively small share of the overall costs of production, with the share of net wages being especially low. This results from the comparatively high tax burden on labour. The actual level of labour costs depends, first of all, on the branch of the economy, followed by the size of the enterprises involved and their ownership status. The highest wages in Poland, and consequently also the highest labour costs, are still found in mining, despite recent restructuring. Poland has much lower labour costs than the EU Member States or the USA, but higher than those in some neighbouring central European countries.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: Controversy over abolition of pre-retirement allowance<#PDF_LINK>In late 2001, one of the statutory instruments accompanying Poland's national budget for 2002 abolished thepre-retirement allowance, which allowed people meeting certain age and employment requirements to cease work before retirement age. No new benefits of this sort are now being paid, although the payment of pre-retirement allowances allocated in the past is being continued. As of August 2002, almost 350,000 registered unemployed people were collecting such benefits. The amendment of the pre-retirement benefit laws has been challenged before Poland's Constitutional Tribunal independently by four parties, including the country's two principal trade union organisations, OPZZ and NSZZ Solidarność.
- 27 Nov 2002
Poland: Industrial relations and work in foreign hypermarket chains<#PDF_LINK>The 1990s witnessed the rapid development in Poland of chains of large supermarkets, or hypermarkets, operated by foreign-owned companies (principally from Germany and France). In 2002, there are approximately 20 foreign retail chains with operations in Poland; between them, they run some 400 large outlets employing around 80,000 Polish workers. Trade unions have experienced considerable difficulties in establishing a presence in these firms, while research carried out by the State Labour Inspection indicates that foreign hypermarket chains frequently do not abide by the Polish Labour Code.
- 06 Nov 2002
Poland: NSZZ Solidarność organises protests<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Poland's NSZZ Solidarność trade union organised two demonstrations in Warsaw. In both cases, violence occurred between the protesters and the police. The protests were directed against the present government's policy regarding some branches of industry, and were also a response to the recent liberalisation of the Labour Code.
- 06 Nov 2002
Poland: STOEN premises occupied in protest against sell-off<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, activists from a little-known organisation called the Defence Movement of the Unemployed briefly occupied the premises of STOEN, a publicly-owned Polish energy distribution company. They were protesting against the sale of the majority of the company's shares to a German company. However, the employees of STOEN are not opposed to the privatisation process.
- 29 Oct 2002
Poland: Unemployment benefits examined<#PDF_LINK>High levels of unemployment have emerged as Poland has developed a market economy. In the first years of economic transformation, the government introduced relatively high unemployment benefits, but over the years unemployment policy has changed considerably. Unemployment benefit levels have been cut, the criteria for entitlement tightened, and the period of receipt of benefit reduced. Unemployed people now receive support at subsistence level and are simultaneously encouraged to seek a job. Furthermore, the restructuring of major sectors of the economy has meant large-scale job losses, forcing the government to realign its social insurance policy and introduce a variety of allowances (such aspre-pensionablebenefits). This feature examines the development of unemployment benefits in Poland from 1989 to 2002.
- 29 Oct 2002
Poland: Collective agreements in focus<#PDF_LINK>At the end of 2001, some 9,000 collective agreements were in force in Poland - in almost all cases single-establishment agreements. Multi-establishment agreements are rare and the conclusion of agreements is much more common in the public sector than in the private sector. This feature examines the development of collective agreements and their legal regulation since the 1970s, and outlines current bargaining practice.
- 29 Oct 2002
Poland: Forms of employment contract reviewed<#PDF_LINK>Polish law provides for various types of employment relationship, based on contracts regulated by the Labour Code and by the Civil Code. In recent years, civil law contracts have been used increasingly, largely because of the lower level of obligations placed on the employer. Amendments made to the Labour Code in 2002 have sought to prohibit the widespread practice of replacing contracts of employment with civil law contracts.
- 29 Oct 2002
Poland: The dynamics of unemployment from 1990 to 2002<#PDF_LINK>Unemployment emerged and grew rapidly in Poland as a result of the transformation of the political system in 1989, the rationalisation of the economy and the decrease in the demand for Polish products in the former Soviet countries. It developed in three phases, growing rapidly over 1990-3, then declining in 1994-9, only to rise again in 1998-2002. The registered unemployment rate was 18.1% at the end of March 2002, while the total unemployment rate stood at 20.3%. Unemployment is particularly high among the inhabitants of rural areas and young people. Hopes for improving the situation in the labour market lie with future economic growth, flexible labour laws and development of the private services sector.
- 28 Oct 2002
Poland: The development of the national Tripartite Commission<#PDF_LINK>Poland's Tripartite Commission for Social and Economic Issues was established as a forum for national social dialogue in 1994, under aState Enterprise Pactinvolving the government and trade unions. Initially, the weakness of the employers’ representation (especially of the private sector employers) and conflict between the NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ trade unions were major obstacles to the work of the Tripartite Commission. This conflict and the involvement of the trade unions in direct political activity hampered the work of the Commission for some years. However, since 2001 the present left-wing coalition government has introduced new legal regulations and revitalised the Commission. Despite some problems, the body is now functioning relatively well.
- 10 Oct 2002
Poland: Delays in payment of wages increase<#PDF_LINK>Surveys of private sector enterprises in Poland have found a growing tendency among employers to delay the payment of wages in recent years. For example, in 2001 the State Labour Inspection found that nearly two-thirds of companies audited breached regulations in this area. Late payment was initially restricted to small firms, but has recently become common in large enterprises as well.
- 10 Oct 2002
Poland: Accidents at work decrease<#PDF_LINK>According to official data published in 2002, the number of people injured in accidents at work in Poland fell by over 10% in 2001, and falls were also registered in fatal and serious accidents. However, the State Labour Inspection argues that the risk of occupational accidents still remains at a very high level, especially in building, mining and agriculture.
- 10 Oct 2002
Poland: Protective regulations on women's employment amended<#PDF_LINK>In July 2002, the Polish government amended the legislative provisions specifying the types of work which women are not allowed to perform. The aim is to improve occupational health and safety standards and, in particular, to protect pregnant and nursing women. The prohibition is not regarded as contradicting equal opportunities provisions.
- 10 Oct 2002
Poland: NSZZ Solidarność trade union holds 15-th congress<#PDF_LINK>In late September 2002, NSZZSolidarność, one of the two largest trade unions in Poland, held its four-yearly congress. Delegates elected new officers and agreed changes to the union’s policies. The previous chair, Marian Krzaklewski, lost the position following criticisms of his record, and especially of excessive involvement in politics.
- 10 Oct 2002
Poland: Temporary work under debate<#PDF_LINK>In September 2002, the Polish government presented proposals to regulate the legal status of temporary work, which is a relatively new phenomenon in Poland. Despite the current lack of precise statutory regulations, this form of employment - including temporary agency work - has become increasingly popular in recent years, and is seen as an instrument for reducing unemployment.
- 07 Oct 2002
Poland: Amended Labour Code adopted<#PDF_LINK>After many months of negotiations and debate involving the social partners, the Polish parliament adopted a revised Labour Code in July-August 2002. The provisions of the amended Code reflect demands made for several years by employers' circles, which have sought more flexibility in employment relationships and lower employment costs in order to improve the competitiveness of the Polish economy. It is quite probable, however, that this reform of the labour market will meet with active opposition from trade unions, which have been against the reforms from the beginning.
- 29 Sep 2002
Poland: Social labour inspection examined<#PDF_LINK>Under Polish labour law, companies with trade union representation have asocial labour inspection- employee health and safety representatives with a range of rights. The aim of the inspectors is to protect employees’ rights and ensure proper working conditions. We examine the organisation and operation of this institution in 2002.
- 25 Sep 2002
Poland: Privatisation and industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>Since it began in 1989, privatisation has transformed the Polish economy, with large numbers of state-owned enterprises passing into private hands. This feature examines the privatisation process up to 2002, outlining the methods used, the extent of changes in ownership, the public perception of the process and the effects on industrial relations.
- 23 Sep 2002
Poland: Employers’ organisations examined<#PDF_LINK>Employers’ organisations are relatively new feature of Polish industrial relations, having appeared only in 1990s. Initially, because of organisational weakness, they were not able to play as important a role as trade unions did. However, employers’ organisations are now becoming stronger, mostly as a result of a new legal framework and of economic changes. This article examines the position in 2002, outlining the legal situation, the main organisations and their role in industrial relations.
- 11 Sep 2002
Poland: All-Polish Inter-company Protest Committee established<#PDF_LINK>In July 2002, representatives of workers from a number of Polish companies facing financial crisis set up an All-Polish Inter-company Protest Committee (OMPK). This initiative grew from a protest committee set up outside the official trade unions by workers at the bankrupt Szczecin Shipyard. The new movement has been criticised by both the main trade unions and the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. OMPK has announced a set of demands, including measures to protect the national economy, and organised demonstrations, though with little success.
- 27 Aug 2002
Poland: Non-union forms of employee representation<#PDF_LINK>Trade unions are the main channel of representation of workers' interests in Polish companies. However, the unions' increasing marginalisation and declining membership tends to hamper such representation. This feature examines the non-union forms of company-level employee representation in place in some types of enterprises in 2002, concluding that such channels - mainly workers' councils and employee representation on supervisory boards - are limited in scope and largely ineffective. Meanwhile, Poland has recently adopted legislation to implement the EU Directive on European Works Councils.
- 21 Aug 2002
Poland: Declining trade union density examined<#PDF_LINK>Over the past 20 years, trade union density in Poland has dropped from 80% of the workforce to 14% in 2002. This sharp decrease in density has been influenced by a number of economic and political factors. As a result, Poland, whose trade unions played a highly important role in 1980s, now has much weaker unions than most other European countries. This feature examines the development of Polish trade unions, the reasons for their decline and the initiatives taken in recent years by unions in an attempt to reverse their falling membership.
- 07 Aug 2002
Poland: Dispute over closure of Fabryka Kabli<#PDF_LINK>Workers at the Fabryka Kabli cable and wire plant in O?arów, Poland, have been taking strike and other action since April 2002 in protest at the decision to close the factory taken by its new owner, Tele-Fonika. In early August 2002, the dispute shows no sign of being resolved.
- 06 Aug 2002
Poland: 'First Job' programme seeks to prevent youth unemployment<#PDF_LINK>Unemployment among young people in Poland is three times higher than the average rate, which is itself high. In order to address the problem and seek to prevent youth unemployment, in June 2002 the government launched a new programme,First Job, whose aim is to enable young people entering the labour market to acquire their first work experience.
- 06 Aug 2002
Poland: New Minister of Finance seeks to protect jobs<#PDF_LINK>Grzegorz Kołodko was appointed as Poland's new Minister of Finance in July 2002. He has decided to cancel a part of the debts of large industrial companies in order to prevent them going into bankruptcy, thus helping to protect jobs in these firms. The Minister's proposals have been welcomed by trade unions, but heavily criticised by the organisations representing private employers.
- 30 Jul 2002
Poland: Strikes over 1990-2001 examined<#PDF_LINK>Since the mid-1990s, the number of strikes in Poland has fallen to a low level, with trade unions tending to avoid using thestrike weaponboth in the private sector, where unions are either very weak or absent, and (to a lesser extent) in the public sector, in the light of prevailing economic and labour market conditions. This feature examines the legal regulation of strikes, strike trends and dynamics since 1990.
- 10 Jul 2002
Poland: Bankruptcy of the Szczecin Shipyard<#PDF_LINK>In June 2002, Poland's Szczecin Shipyard - formerly held up as example of successful privatisation - went into bankruptcy, faced with massive debts and other problems. The future of the company's 6,000 employees is uncertain, and its failure will have knock-on effects throughout the economy.
- 04 Jul 2002
Poland: Industrial relations in SMEs examined<#PDF_LINK>Private small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Poland employ more than half of the country's workforce. They differ in many ways from public sector enterprises in terms of their employees, pay levels and industrial relations. Trade unions are very rarely present in private SMEs and employees thus often lack collective representation. Employers frequently breach both tax and labour law, but without any protests from the workers. These are among the finding of research into private SMEs conducted over 1999-2002.
- 20 Jun 2002
Poland: Tripartite Commission discusses amendments to Labour Code<#PDF_LINK>Over April-May 2002, Poland's Tripartite Commission has been discussing the government's proposals for amendments to the Labour Code, which seek to reduce labour costs and make labour law more flexible. The debate has seen a number of differences of opinion between the two largest trade unions organisations, NSZZSolidarnośćand OPZZ.