Marlena Maląg – Minister of Family and Social Policy, Vice-President of the Social Dialogue Council took part in the plenary session of the Council, which was devoted to the discussion on the assumptions of the draft state budget for 2024, the proposed average annual wage growth rate in the state budget sphere for 2024 and the amount of the minimum wage for work and the amount of the minimum hourly rate in 2024. During the meeting, the issue of increasing the indexation of pensions and disability pensions in 2024 was also discussed.

The meeting took place on July 10, 2023 at the Dialog Center for Social Partnership. The meeting, chaired by Łukasz Bernatowicz, Chairman of the Council representing the BCC Employers’ Association, was attended by Piotr Patkowski – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance, Piotr Pyzik – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of State Assets, Ewelina Owczarska – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and social partners.

Deputy Minister P. Patkowski presented information on the assumptions of the draft state budget for 2024; proposal of the average annual wage growth rate in the state budget sphere for 2024 and the projected macroeconomic figures constituting the basis for the development of the draft budget act for 2024. He informed that the government proposed the average annual wage growth rate in the state budget sphere next year in the amount of 106.6 percent Moreover, it is forecasted that the real dynamics of the gross domestic product will amount to 103.0 percent; the registered unemployment rate (at the end of the year) will be 5.3%; the nominal dynamics of the average gross remuneration in the national economy will amount to 109.7 percent. while the average employment in the national economy (in thousands of full-time jobs) will amount to 11,286.

Then, Minister Marlena Maląg presented information on the proposed amount of the minimum wage for work and the proposed amount of the minimum hourly rate in 2024. She informed that the government proposes to increase the minimum wage to the level of PLN 4,242 from January 1, 2024 and PLN 4,300 from July 1, 2024. and the minimum hourly rate to PLN 27.70 from 1 January 2024 and PLN 28.10 from 1 July 2024. The average minimum wage in 2024 will be PLN 4,271. The ratio of the minimum wage to the average wage in the national economy forecast for 2024 at PLN 7,794 is: 54.4 percent. From January 1, 2024 and 55.2 percent. from July 1, 2024. According to estimates, the number of people covered by the regulation will be 3.6 million.

As regards the increase in the indexation of pensions and disability pensions in 2024, Minister Marlena Maląg informed that the government proposes to leave the increase in the indexation of pensions and disability pensions in 2024 at the statutory minimum of 20% of the real increase in the average salary in 2023. that the pension indexation index in 2024 will not be less than 112.3%. The estimated total cost of indexation of benefits with the forecasted index at the level of 112.3% will amount to approx. PLN 43.6 billion.

The minister emphasized that the senior policy is based on the pillar of financial empowerment and activeness of the elderly. For this reason, additional benefits have been introduced, such as the so-called thirteenth and fourteenth pension. She informed about the decision that the „fourteenth pension” would be introduced as a permanent benefit, paid every year. This will support pensioners receiving the lowest benefits. The draft act on another additional annual cash benefit for pensioners was signed by the President of the Republic of Poland. It assumes that the benefit will be at least the amount of the minimum old-age pension. After exceeding the income criterion of PLN 2,900, the “PLN for PLN” mechanism will apply. The date of payment of the benefit will be determined annually by a resolution of the Council of Ministers.

J. Męcina – Chairman of the Team for Budget, Remuneration and Social Benefits informed that the Team failed to develop a common position on the wage growth rate in the state budget sector and the increase in the minimum wage for work for 2024. The Team for Budget, Remuneration and Social Benefits social benefits and the Social Insurance Team, also failed to develop a common position on increasing the indexation of pensions and disability pensions in 2024.

Source:https://www.gov.pl/web/dialog/powiedzenie-plenarn-rady-dialogu-spoleczny27

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.