Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, during the plenary session of the Council for Social Dialogue, presented information on the National Reconstruction Plan. The meeting, which took place on 7 April 2021, was chaired by Jarosław Gowin – Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Development, Labour and Technology.

The government side of the meeting was represented by: Marlena Maląg – Minister of Family and Social Policy, Olga Semeniuk – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology, Robert Tomanek – Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology, Maciej Wąsik – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Waldemar Buda – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, Sebastian Skuza – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Finance , Anna Gembicka – State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Maciej Małecki – Secretary of State in the Ministry of State Assets, Vladimir Bernacki – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Science, Rafał Weber – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Maciej Miłkowski – Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health, Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński – Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

Prime Minister M. Morawiecki announced that the National Recovery Plan (KPO) is to rebuild the economy after the coronavirus pandemic crisis and provide it with greater resilience to future unforeseen circumstances. The KPO is a comprehensive programme of reforms and strategic projects. Its aim is to strengthen economic and social resilience and build the potential of the Polish economy for the future. He pointed out that the KPO consists of two components: a grant of €24 billion and a loan of €34 billion. The Prime Minister stressed that Poland has time to spend this money by the end of 2026.

A debate with the social partners took place later in the meeting. Employers’ representatives stressed the need to adopt the KPO necessary for the development of the country after the pandemic. Attention has been paid to demographic challenges, weaknesses in public institutions, anticipation and quality of regulation. The need to increase support for entrepreneurs has been raised.

According to the trade union, the KPO should be complemented by specific job creation programmes, without which there can be no question of a just transition. It underlined that this document lacks concrete proposals for solutions in the context of the country’s exit from the COVID-19 pandemic. The trade union side points out that the KPO does not guarantee higher wages in the context of increasing labour productivity and improving the quality of jobs.

Both employers and trade unionists stressed the issues of strengthening the capacity of the social partners and greater involvement in the consultation, preparation and implementation of the National Reconstruction Plan. It was called for the strengthening of social dialogue to be one of the components of the KPO. Partners expect effective action to ensure quality education in the country. The need to develop vocational training in the dual system has been highlighted.

According to Prime Minister J. Gowin, when discussing and adapting the objectives of the National Reconstruction Plan to the needs and expectations of our market, we pay the most attention to activities aimed at increasing the productivity of the Polish economy, supporting innovative activities and technological advancement of enterprises while respecting the environment.

Deputy Minister Buda, speaking in the discussion, referred to the issue of retirement age and professional activity of persons over 60 years of age. He announced the involvement of the social partners in the work on the creation of the National Reconstruction Plan. He mentioned the reform of spatial planning, including proposals to simplify the rules and co-finance this process.

Prime Minister M. Morawiecki summed up the development opportunities offered by the National Reconstruction Plan for Poland. He pointed out that in recent years in Poland m.in. there has been the highest wage increase in 4 years, extreme poverty has been eradicated, the financial system has been sealed, the public finance system has been repaired, many jobs have been saved and public debt dependability has decreased. He pointed out that unemployment in Poland is one of the lowest in the European Union.

Source: http://www.dialog.gov.pl/aktualnosci/art,1226,posiedzenie-plenarne-rady-dialogu-spolecznego.html

Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.