The focal point of the Social Dialogue Council's Thursday gathering, which took place on February 15th at the Dialogue Social Partnership Centre in Warsaw, revolved around the key initiatives of the Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Policy.

At the forefront of the ministry's agenda, as outlined by the Ministry of Family Labour and Social Policy, is the drafting of legislation concerning public employment services. The underlying principles guiding the development of these new measures aim to streamline job search processes and enhance employment stability. As assured by the Minister, the Ministry of Family is also working on a draft law on access to the labour market for foreigners to make the current legislation more coherent and sealed. Crucially, this legislation will encompass both Ukrainian nationals and individuals from third countries.

Among the Ministry's focal points is also the integration of EU directives pertaining to establishing adequate minimum wages across the European Union.

Safeguarding families and senior citizens

The head of the Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Policy highlighted a novel family support initiative known as the 'Active Parent' programme, as well as plans to implement tailored solutions for parents of prematurely born babies and those who required hospitalization after birth. Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk emphasized the establishment of a dedicated working team within the ministry to address parental rights concerning individuals in this specific life circumstance.

Other instruments being prepared by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy are laws on social security. These measures encompass the regulation of an honour allowance for centenarians, the second annual indexation of pensions, and the increase and indexation of the death benefit.

Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk further disclosed that a draft law is underway, aiming to include periods of sole proprietorship and employment under civil law contracts in the calculation of length of service.

Protection of whistleblowers

During the Social Dialogue Council meeting, Deputy Minister Sebastian Gajewski underscored that a draft law aimed at safeguarding whistleblowers has reached the final stages of legislative development.

We strive to develop the most effective project through collaborative dialogue with NGOs. The Commissioner for Human Rights serves as the public authority responsible for orchestrating the entire whistleblowing system within the project. This ensures complete independence and impartial support for whistleblowers, as asserted by the Deputy Minister.

Composition of the Social Dialogue Council

In addition to representatives from the leadership of the Ministry of Family, the meeting of the Social Dialogue Council was attended by Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology Krzysztof Hetman, Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Senior Policy Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz, Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula, and Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance Hanna Majszczyk.

Trade union representatives:

• NSZZ "Solidarność",
• All-Poland Trade Union Agreement,
• Trade Union Forum.

Representative employer organisations:

• Employers of the Republic of Poland,
• Confederation "Lewiatan",
• Polish Craft Association,
• Business Centre Club Employers' Association,
• Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers,
• Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs.

The Social Dialogue Council serves as a central forum in Poland for tripartite dialogue and collaboration among representatives from the workers' side, the employers' side, and the government. The Social Dialogue Council replaced the Trilateral Commission for Social and Economic Affairs, which had been in place since 1994.