Background information

Wage subsidies as one of the anti-crisis shield measures have been generally well received and assessed by the business community. However, some conditions on using that particular form of aid are regarded as too strict. For example, if a company has laid off even a single employee while receiving wage subsidies from the anti-crisis shield, all aid must be returned in full amount.

Content of measure

According to the planned amendment to the anti-crisis regulations, companies in such position will be obliged to return the funds received for the employee's position, not all of the aid awarded for all employees. The company will not have to give back all the subsidies, if it turns out that individual subsidies were paid to unauthorized persons (e.g. to an employee on maternity leave). Furthermore, in case the company in such position has already given all the money received for wage subsidies back, it will have a right to claim it back, only reduced by the amount unjustly granted for ineligible employees. The draft legislation was presented in late September. Currently, they are subject to public consultations, after which they are likely to proceed further in parliament.

Use of measure

To be seen, once the proposed regulations are adopted.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all 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	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement so far, social partners may get involved at further stages of proceedings.

Views and reactions

No views of social partners recorded just yet.

Sources

• 27 September 2021: Revolution in the repayment of the so-called shield. It is going to be easier for employers (www.bankier.pl)