[Poland] Labour code amendments to improve parental leave and workers’ rights

The Polish government has published proposed labour code amendments intended to strengthen workers rights and, in particular, support family life, Notes From Poland reports.

The changes are a national implementation of EU directives on working conditions and work-life balance for parents and carers. The new measures reportedly include an extension of parental leave by nine weeks, the introduction of additional days off for carers and a requirement for employers to give an explanation in the case of contract termination (regardless of the contract type).

“These changes are undoubtedly beneficial for balancing professional with family life,” Irena Kotowska - a professor at Warsaw School of Economics - said.

A key change proposed by the ministry of family, labour and social policy is a requirement for employers to provide an explanation when they decide to terminate a fixed-term contract. At present, that requirement only applies to employees with indefinite contracts.

Also included under the new rules; a person employed on a temporary basis will have the right to ask for a permanent contract every year and the employer will have to provide a written explanation if they refuse this claim.

The new regulations “will be probably the biggest regulatory challenge for employers this year,” Arkadiusz Pączka - deputy head of the Association of Polish Employers - told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily.

An additional and significant change proposed in the new law is the extension of parental leave from the current 32 weeks up to 41 weeks. The measures will also reportedly introduce a non-transferrable nine weeks of leave for each parent as part of those 41 weeks.

TVN24 said what this means in practice is that fathers are now being given an extra nine weeks of leave. During that time off work, they will be entitled to receive 70 per cent of their pay.

Remaining in line with the EU directives, regulations introducing extra days off are also to be implemented into the labour law. In order to take care of a family member or another person living in the same household, employees will be able to take five days of unpaid leave a year.

In addition, they will be able to take off two days (or 16 hours) each year if there is a family emergency caused by illness or an accident and still receive 50 per cent of their salary.

The proposed law also includes measures to extend the option of working flexibility. These are to apply to working parents of children under eight and people taking care of family members requiring special support.

These changes as especially beneficial for working parents and are aimed to help them balance professional and family life, Ms Kotowska said.

She did, however, point out that the government has missed an opportunity to introduce regulations extending leave for parents of children with disabilities or chronic illnesses further.

“It would provide significant support for them in caring for children and combining this challenging care with professional work,” she told Gazeta Wyborcza.

Source: Notes From Poland

(Quotes via original reporting)

The Polish government has published proposed labour code amendments intended to strengthen workers rights and, in particular, support family life, Notes From Poland reports.

The changes are a national implementation of EU directives on working conditions and work-life balance for parents and carers. The new measures reportedly include an extension of parental leave by nine weeks, the introduction of additional days off for carers and a requirement for employers to give an explanation in the case of contract termination (regardless of the contract type).

“These changes are undoubtedly beneficial for balancing professional with family life,” Irena Kotowska - a professor at Warsaw School of Economics - said.

A key change proposed by the ministry of family, labour and social policy is a requirement for employers to provide an explanation when they decide to terminate a fixed-term contract. At present, that requirement only applies to employees with indefinite contracts.

Also included under the new rules; a person employed on a temporary basis will have the right to ask for a permanent contract every year and the employer will have to provide a written explanation if they refuse this claim.

The new regulations “will be probably the biggest regulatory challenge for employers this year,” Arkadiusz Pączka - deputy head of the Association of Polish Employers - told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily.

An additional and significant change proposed in the new law is the extension of parental leave from the current 32 weeks up to 41 weeks. The measures will also reportedly introduce a non-transferrable nine weeks of leave for each parent as part of those 41 weeks.

TVN24 said what this means in practice is that fathers are now being given an extra nine weeks of leave. During that time off work, they will be entitled to receive 70 per cent of their pay.

Remaining in line with the EU directives, regulations introducing extra days off are also to be implemented into the labour law. In order to take care of a family member or another person living in the same household, employees will be able to take five days of unpaid leave a year.

In addition, they will be able to take off two days (or 16 hours) each year if there is a family emergency caused by illness or an accident and still receive 50 per cent of their salary.

The proposed law also includes measures to extend the option of working flexibility. These are to apply to working parents of children under eight and people taking care of family members requiring special support.

These changes as especially beneficial for working parents and are aimed to help them balance professional and family life, Ms Kotowska said.

She did, however, point out that the government has missed an opportunity to introduce regulations extending leave for parents of children with disabilities or chronic illnesses further.

“It would provide significant support for them in caring for children and combining this challenging care with professional work,” she told Gazeta Wyborcza.

Source: Notes From Poland

(Quotes via original reporting)