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COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level responses

Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for case PL-2021-13/1873 – measures in Poland

Remission of aid granted under the Anti-crisis Shield on the government agenda

Umorzenie spłat należności z tytułu pomocy z tarczy antykryzysowej w planach rządu

Country Poland , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, started on 22 March 2021
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Deferral of payments or liabilities
Author Jan Czarzasty (Warsaw School of Economics) and Eurofound
Case created 15 April 2021 (updated 04 May 2021)

Background information

The government aims at addressing the unclear situation in the anti-crisis support schemes which stems from the fact that there are no regulations concerning remission of aid granted in some extraordinary circumstances such as death of the beneficiary or other sudden random events (e.g. long period of health recovery and/or rehabilitation). Such cases require individual approach and consideration, as signaled by local employment offices, responsible for administering the aid.

It should be stressed out that the proposed regulations do not introduce remissions as a new instrument. Only the authority competent to consider the case and authorised to make decisions is changed.

Content of measure

Under the proposed regulations, the head of local government (starosta) at the middle level of a district (powiat), would be authorised to - acting either ex-officio or at the request of an entrepreneur - agree for full or partial remission of liabilities, deferment of deadlines for repayment of granted funds, spreading the repayment of liabilities into installments due to e.g. unduly received funds within the forms of support granted by local employment offices (at the powiat level) under the Anti-crisis shields. Remission of debts in whole or in part are to take place in exceptional situations, thus the cost of the proposed regulation will be marginal.

Use of measure

The instrument has not been activated yet.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Applies to all businesses Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

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

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

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

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No engagement on the part of social partners.

Views and reactions

No views expressed by the social partners.

Sources

  • 01 April 2020: The Act of 31 March 2020 amending the Act on Special Measures regarding Prevention, Counteraction and Combating COVID-19 Other Contagious Diseases and Crisis Situations Related (Ustawa z dnia 31 marca 2020 r. o zmianie ustawy o szczególnych rozwiązaniach związanych z zapobieganiem, przeciwdziałaniem i zwalczaniem COVID-19, innych chorób zakaźnych oraz wywołanych nimi sytuacji kryzysowych oraz niektórych innych ustaw (dziennikustaw.gov.pl)
  • 22 March 2021: Draft Act on amending the Act on special solutions for preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and crisis situations caused by them (Projekt ustawy o zmianie ustawy o szczególnych rozwiązaniach związanych z zapobieganiem, przeciwdziałaniem i zwalczaniem COVID-19, innych chorób zakaźnych oraz wywołanych nimi sytuacji kryzysowych) (archiwum.bip.kprm.gov.pl)

Citation

Eurofound (2021), Remission of aid granted under the Anti-crisis Shield on the government agenda, case PL-2021-13/1873 (measures in Poland), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.