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Payment of remuneration as the subject of a meeting with
journalists
During inspections covering the first quarter of 2009 labour
inspectors identified a 6-fold increase in the number of employees
deprived of salaries when compared to the same period last year. The
amount of dues which were not paid to employees rose almost twice.
Journalists were informed about it by the head of National Labour
Inspectorate Tadeusz Jan Zając at a press conference held at the
Chief Labour Inspectorate on 24 April 2009.
The Chief Labour Inspector reminded everyone that in February this
year he appealed to employers asking them to observe the provisions
on the payment of salaries and other benefits resulting from an
employment relationship. He announced then that each quarter the
general public would be informed via the mass media about how
entrepreneurs meet that basic duty, as well as other legal
requirements, in the light of signals about worsening economic
standing of many enterprises. First answers to that question were
given during the meeting at the Chief Labour Inspectorate.
Besides an increase in the number of unpaid salaries – from 3
thousand to almost 19 thousand – and the amounts due to employees –
from 17 million to 32 million PLN, labour inspectors also revealed a
growth in the number of employers infringing upon provisions which
regulate the issues of terminating employment relationship for
reasons independent of an employee – from 54 to 105. Moreover, NLI
received almost twice as many complaints concerning dismissals for
reasons unrelated to workers: 110 such complaints were lodged in the
first quarter of 2008, and 201 – in the first quarter of 2009. Those
data refer to inspections carried out at 19.3 thousand employers
this year and 18 thousand employers in 2008.
Tadeusz Jan Zając emphasised that fines imposed by labour
inspectors for offences against employee rights, applied
disciplining measures and motions asking to punish the offenders
submitted to municipal courts, were not the only elements of
inspection activity, enforcement and assistance-related actions
undertaken by NLI so as to counteract a negative influence of
worsening economic situation of enterprises on the degree of
compliance with labour law. Throughout Poland the inspectorate
opened 30 information and consultancy help desks where, jointly with
representatives of labour offices, it offers legal assistance and
consultancy to employees and employers.
Dr Marian Liwo, Deputy Chief Labour Inspector, informed
journalists about employers’ possibilities to cope with the crisis
without infringing upon employee rights, lawful ways of avoiding
dismissal of workers or lowering of salaries. For example, one of
such possibilities is to conclude an agreement suspending the
application of company regulations of labour law, if it is justified
by the employer’s difficult financial situation. Another solution
for employers who have temporary financial troubles and are not
covered with a collective labour agreement or who engage fewer than
20 workers is to sign an agreement with employees which would allow
the employer to suspend the application of some provisions of
individual contracts of employment. Another option might also be,
under special conditions, to draw up notices amending the terms of
employment and remuneration.
Teresa Cabała, Director of Supervision and Inspection
Department, presented to representatives of the mass media
conspicuous examples of offences against employee rights identified
in recent past which ended with labour inspectors’ intervention.
The conference was also attended by Anna Tomczyk, Deputy
Chief Labour Inspector.
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