The Economic Forum in Karpacz, as it is stressed by its organisers, is the largest meeting platform in Central and Eastern Europe, where not only the issues of security, prospects for economic development, modern challenges and overcoming crises are discussed, but also specific solutions and innovative ideas are presented.

Family policy towards contemporary transformations

On Wednesday, on the second day of the Forum, the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg participated in the panel entitled “Family policy towards contemporary transformations”.

– We are building a Poland of happy families. The Polish Order is a strategic, dynamic programme of Poland’s development, it is a very innovative programme, with the focus on the family – said Minister Maląg in Karpacz. – In the pyramid of needs of young people, we have the housing policy, stable work, tax policy, health, but also care for children below 3. The response to these needs are the solutions included in the Polish Order and the Demographic Strategy 2040 – she stressed.

A strong foundation, as she pointed out, was the fact that nearly 100% of young Poles wanted to have children. Therefore, an effective demographic policy must be a family-oriented policy, reducing the barriers to starting a family.

– Family is in the centre of life, in the centre of attention of the Polish government and these are not just words – we have been creating a good time for Polish families for 6 years. The family-oriented policy means investing in the future of our country – said the Head of the Ministry of Family. And she added that the Council of Ministers would adopt further draft acts from the Polish Order – inter alia, the act on flats without own contribution. She also mentioned the objectives of Family Care Capital.

COVID-19 and the standard of living of the silver generation

On Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Family, Stanisław Szwed participated in the panel entitled “COVID-19 and the standard of living of the silver generation”. He reiterated the actions supporting seniors financially – such as the thirteenth and, this year, also the fourteenth pension.

The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Family also referred to the Solidarity Assistance Corps for Seniors operating during the pandemic, in which thousands of volunteers were involved. The Corps was a significant help for many, in particular, lonely or less independent seniors.

– More than 300 youth organisations got involved – emphasised Deputy Minister Stanisław Szwed, highlighting the enormous role of such intergenerational solidarity.

An ageing society – forecasts, challenges, opportunities

In turn, the Deputy Minister of Family and Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities, Paweł Wdówik took part in the panel “Seniors – invisible – present? An ageing society – forecasts, challenges, opportunities”. As he pointed out, the issue of policy for elderly people was a very important issue for that government.

– As early as in 2018, the document “Social policy for elderly people 2030. Security – Participation – Solidarity” was adopted. It indicates that elderly people are divided into two groups and two areas in which solutions need to be built. One group are people who are and can still be active, and the other group are dependent people – said Deputy Minister Wdówik on Wednesday in Karpacz.

The Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities stressed that today – 3 years later – a different word would probably be used. – We would not like to be defined by dependence – he added.

According to Deputy Minister Wdówik, cooperation with self-governments and their support in the implementation of assistance for elderly people is important, but it is necessary to indicate directions centrally. He stated so on an example of the programmes financed from the Solidarity Fund, inter alia, “Personal assistant to a person with disability”.