Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 109 measures in Poland in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat with 33 cases (30%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Monika Helak (Polityka Insight) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
11 May 2020 Updated |
Flexible working time arrangements and introduction of less favourable working conditions
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
20 January 2021 |
Ban on Sunday trading partly lifted in December
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
23 August 2022 |
Relaxation of rules for hiring Ukrainian refugee teachers
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
05 September 2022 |
Faster skills recognition for health sector workers
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
08 September 2022 Updated |
Wage increases for health sector workers
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
23 August 2022 Updated |
Portal to help Ukrainian refugees find employment
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 April 2020 Updated |
Anti-crisis shield: Deferral of social security contributions for self-employed and micro companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
23 June 2022 |
Support for Succession in Family Businesses
Access to finance |
23 June 2022 |
Special economic zones (SEZ)
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Grant scheme to support businesses’ internationalisation
Measures related to foreign trade |
09 January 2022 Updated |
The next edition of the Anti-Crisis Shield comes to force in January
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
02 November 2021 |
Challenging refusals from Social Security contributions exemptions
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
13 October 2021 |
Relaxed restrictions regarding aid granted under anti-crisis shields
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
20 July 2021 Updated |
Financial Shield 1.0 for microfirms and SMEs - some subsidies to be returned
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
11 July 2021 |
Social Security Institution's aid under the Anti-Crisis Shield amounts to PLN 37.5 billion
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
11 July 2021 Updated |
Tax on the Financial Shield to be canceled
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
11 July 2021 |
Financial Shields extended
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
15 April 2021 Updated |
Artists with civil law contracts can claim work stoppage allowance
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
15 April 2021 Updated |
The government's decision to cut down rental rates in shopping malls
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
01 June 2023 |
Gas price subsidies for bakeries and confectioneries
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
02 February 2021 Updated |
Aiding school shops on the government agenda
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
30 April 2020 |
Financial shield: Micro enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
30 April 2020 |
Financial shield: Small and medium enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
30 April 2020 Updated |
Financial shield: large enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
16 July 2020 |
Anti-takeover measures
Other |
28 September 2020 Updated |
Anti-crisis shield: Temporary deferral of obligatory payments to the State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled People
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
15 April 2021 Updated |
Remission of aid granted under the Anti-crisis Shield on the government agenda
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
28 December 2020 Updated |
Financial Shield 2.0: Micro enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
28 October 2020 Updated |
Sectoral shield: Support measures for sectors affected by lockdown measures
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
30 December 2020 Updated |
Financial Shield 2.0: Large enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
31 December 2020 Updated |
Financial Shield 2.0: Small and medium-sized enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Company practices |
|
19 April 2021 Updated |
Enter Air signs loan agreement for €60 million
Access to finance |
15 April 2021 Updated |
Liquidity loan for Polish Mining Group
Access to finance |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
|
28 December 2020 |
The idea of a national social pact re-emerges in the COVID-19 context
Access to finance |
30 December 2020 Updated |
Social partners address economic challenges: Food industry and tourism
Other |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
20 May 2022 |
Polish Investment and Trade Agency provides office space for Ukrainian businesses
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
05 September 2022 Updated |
Bank guarantees for companies from the Polish national development bank
Access to finance |
24 August 2022 Updated |
Loans for entrepreneurs affected by the war in Ukraine
Access to finance |
11 July 2021 Updated |
Ombudsman for SMEs asks to enable companies to appeal decisions on aid
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 Updated |
Anti-crisis shield: Employment protection and wage subsidies
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
16 September 2020 Updated |
Anti-crisis shield: Wage subsidies for employees with disabilities
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
06 September 2022 |
Financial support for workers affected by sanctions
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
31 October 2023 |
Bonus for employees in the public sector and teachers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
01 March 2024 |
Increase in minimum wage and minimum hourly rate
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 Updated |
Training and retraining for workers threatened by redundancies
Matching/networking |
02 June 2023 |
Easing off the conditions required for the construction of wind turbines
Change of production/Innovation |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
20 February 2023 |
Polish government, unions sign social contract on power plants overhaul
Transfer or redeployment of workers |
Company practices |
|
07 February 2021 Updated |
Autoliv starts to produce masks
Change of production/Innovation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 April 2020 Updated |
Measures supporting solo self-employed and freelancers
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
11 May 2020 Updated |
Care allowances for working parents forced to provide personal daycare for young children due to school/pre-school system lockdown
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
11 May 2020 Updated |
Sick leave allowance for people returning from abroad and their household members under quarantine
Paid sick leave |
06 May 2022 Updated |
Access to social benefits for Ukrainian refugees: Support for families and individuals
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
18 May 2022 Updated |
In-kind support and financial support for Ukrainian artists
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
03 November 2023 |
Increase of the 500+ benefit
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
19 May 2022 Updated |
Extension of temporary residence permits and visas for Ukrainians
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
20 May 2022 |
City of Ciechanów exempts private hosts of refugees from real estate tax
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
20 May 2022 |
Help with mortgage payments
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
18 May 2022 |
Access to childcare and education for Ukrainian refugees
Access to childcare and education |
18 May 2022 |
Social security numbers and residence for Ukrainian refugees
Other humanitarian measures |
22 February 2023 |
Refugees from Ukraine to pay for food and accommodation in Poland
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
11 May 2022 Updated |
Benefits for people who help to house and feed refugees
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
06 May 2022 |
Access to healthcare for Ukrainian refugees
Access to healthcare |
17 May 2022 |
Food assistance for Ukrainian refugees
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
Company practices |
|
20 May 2022 Updated |
Free healthcare offered by LUX MED for refugees from Ukraine
Access to healthcare |
11 May 2020 Updated |
Optional credit and mortgage freezes
Preventing over-indebtedness |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
|
02 November 2020 |
National-level social partners address economic challenges: transport
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
20 May 2022 Updated |
Lesser Poland Humanitarian Shield
Other humanitarian measures |
20 May 2022 |
International humanitarian aid HUB in Lower Silesia
Other humanitarian measures |
13 October 2021 Updated |
Meticulous audits of anti-crisis shield
Other humanitarian measures |
20 May 2022 |
Fundraiser of Polish business associations for Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Social Insurance Institution ZUS provides accommodation for Ukrainian refugees
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
20 May 2022 |
State energy company provides humanitarian aid for refugees from Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 July 2020 Updated |
Tourism voucher
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
03 November 2023 |
Poland's first nuclear power plant location
Strategic plans and programmes |
02 November 2023 |
Amendment to the Energy Law
Strategic plans and programmes |
31 October 2023 Updated |
12% retroactive cut in household electricity prices in 2023
Support for energy bills |
25 May 2023 |
Subsidies for photovoltaic microinstallations
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
21 February 2023 Updated |
Local authorities distribute cheap coal to households
Support for fuel expenses |
20 February 2023 |
Gas price cap to protect vulnerable consumers in 2023
Support for energy bills |
20 February 2023 Updated |
Capping of electricity prices for households and small business
Support for energy bills |
17 February 2023 Updated |
Electricity price freeze for households
Support for energy bills |
17 February 2023 Updated |
Support for energy-intensive companies
Support for energy bills |
24 August 2022 Updated |
Coal subsidy for households
Support for energy bills |
26 August 2022 |
Extra payment for pensioners
Increasing income in general |
23 June 2022 |
Provision of training
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Training fund in enterprises
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
09 May 2022 Updated |
Simplified procedures for Ukrainian healthcare personnel
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
09 January 2022 Updated |
Counter-inflation Shield
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
15 April 2021 Updated |
Extending the validity of tourism voucher in specific circumstances
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
01 October 2020 Updated |
Anti-crisis shield: Additional support for companies and NGOs employing people with disabilities
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
24 August 2022 Updated |
Price control and subsidies for heating for households and vulnerable entities
Support for energy bills |
Company practices |
|
12 September 2022 Updated |
Financial benefits for coal industry workers
Increasing income in general |
01 March 2024 |
Wielkopolska province has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance
Strategic plans and programmes |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
|
22 January 2021 Updated |
Social partners concerned with amendments to social dialogue legislation proposed by the government
Other |
20 January 2021 Updated |
Business rebellion and controversies surrounding public support for enterprises
Other |
30 December 2020 Updated |
Social partners address economic challenges: personal and corporate income tax
Other |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
28 February 2024 |
Request for payment from the National Reconstruction Plan
Strategic plans and programmes |
30 January 2023
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ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.