Background information

Following the ongoing second lock-down of the Polish economy in force since November, and subsequent deterioration of economic and social conditions, in particular related to effective closing down (or seriously reducing the scale of operations) in dozens of economic branches, Confederation Lewiatan, one of the central-level employer organisations seating on the national tripartite body, the Social Dialogue Councils, made a public appeal for launching negotiations with a view of concluding the national-level social pact that would address the major forthcoming economic and social challenges. Provided the plea would evoke positive response from the government (other social partners' would likely not object), the initiative could become a trigger for revitalisation of tripartite social dialogue, recently side-lined due to primarily unilateral state policies. Declaration issued by Jarosław Gowin, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of social dialogue on the governmental side could be read as a promising signal.

Content of measure

As one could read in the statement issued by Confederation Lewiatan, action in three areas seem crucial:

• rescuing companies that are threatened with bankruptcy as a result of the pandemic, but have a chance to survive and grow;
• using the National Reconstruction Plan as the most important instrument to transform the economy in line with the EU Green Deal and Digital Agenda, supported by EU funds;
• Preparing a program to rebuild public finances to return to a reasonable balance.

The Confederation Lewiatan further argues in the statement that "All these issues require an agreement between the government and social partners, and the best platform for this is the Social Dialogue Council".

Use of measure

None yet. No negotiations have begun.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Employers' organisations	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

This is the idea formulated and forwarded by a social partner organisation.

Views and reactions

Obviously, positive in the part of Confederation Lewiatan, whose initiative it is. As of other social partners, no official reactions have been recorded just yet.

Sources

• 21 December 2020: Lewiatan calls for a social pact (Lewiatan apeluje o zawarcie paktu społecznego) (konfederacjalewiatan.pl)