As RMF24.pl writes, the document was received by the Sejm on February 17, 2025. According to its content, persons over 30 years of age and have no children would be obliged to pay double pension contribution. On the other hand, the parents of the only children would pay Fr. 50 percent more. The project provides exceptions – they would concern people with confirmed infertility or those who lost their child.
In the justification of the petition, the author argues that childless people “They naturally burden the system, without compensating for their participation in its future maintenance”because they do not raise future contribution payers. In his opinion, a change in regulations could bring ZUS an additional billion zlotys a year and affect the increase in the number of births.
According to RMF24.pl, the author also points out that the Polish pension system is based on intergenerational solidarityi.e. the principle that current pensions are financed by currently working people. “Improving demographics, however, is crucial for the stability of the pension system based on intergenerational solidarity” – he points out.
The author also emphasizes social justice, arguing: “People with more than one child bear significant costs of upbringing and education, which in the future contribute to the maintenance of the pension system”. In his opinion, childless people and families with one child should pay higher contributions, since they do not incur such costs.
As RMF24.pl reminds, currently the pension contribution is 19.52 percent. Calculating grounds and is evenly divided between an employee and an employer. Its amount depends on the income, not the family situation. In the case of maternity or parental leave, the state finances the state.
For example – a person receiving a minimum salary (PLN 4,666 gross) transferred PLN 455.40 per month.
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Experts criticize the idea
As RMF24.pl writes, the petition met with unequivocal criticism on the part of the Sejm Office of Expertise and the assessment of the effects of regulation (Beos), which recommends its rejection. Experts point out that childless people regularly pay contributions and the proposed change is disproportionate and unjustified.
“It is not possible to agree with the thesis that people who do not have children at the age of 30 'naturally burden the system' 'because the institution obliged to pay retirement benefits performs them, as a rule, only after the insured's retirement age has completed, “reads in the opinion.
Beos also warns against a possible violation of the constitutional principle of equality, because the diversity of contributions due to the number of children could lead to discrimination. “The doctrine assumed that the basic formula of justice in retirement and disability insurance is 'the rule for everyone according to work'” – experts emphasize.
Although the formal decision has not yet been made, there are many indications that the petition committee will reject the proposal during the next meeting, which will take place on July 22.
