The Sejm adopted a special act on St. Barbara's Day. Miners will receive protective benefits
241 MPs voted for the adoption of the act, six were against and 186 abstained. Now the bill will be debated by the Senate.
New regulations are to enter into force on January 1, 2026.which is important in the context of, among others, the commencement of the liquidation of the Bobrek mine of Węglokoks Kraj, as well as the merger of the Bielszowice and Halemba operations of the Ruda mine, planned by Polska Grupa Górnicza.
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Objectives of the amendment to the Act and support for the transformation of mining
During the parliamentary proceedings, Marian Zmarzły, deputy minister of energy, emphasized that the amendment is long awaited by the mining community, trade unions, companies and local governments. As he indicated, the purpose of the regulations is to implement the provisions of the 2021 social contract, provide comprehensive cover benefits for departing employees and adapt the regulations to the transformation model of the hard coal sector.
In accordance with the adopted sector transformation schedule, five mines are planned to be closed within 10 years, and a complete phase out of thermal coal mining is planned by 2049.
Zmarzowy also pointed out that enterprises covered by the support system will be able to receive budget subsidies and treasury securities to carry out the mine liquidation process. He also emphasized that the act does not provide for the automatic liquidation of any plant – the action schedule will be implemented in accordance with the social contract, which does not mention any plants belonging to JSW.
Amendment to the Mining Act passed by the Parliament. Not only miners will benefit
The amendment specifies, among others: award conditions mining holidays and holidays for some other employees with 80% retention. remunerationand also one-off severance pay in the amount of PLN 170,000 PLN net, tax-exempt.
The severance pay will cover not only employees of PGG, PKW and Węglokoks Kraj, but also of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa and, in the future, Bogdanka. The new regulations extend protections to all employees of mining companies, including administration and specialized departments, e.g. renovation or investment, which is a change compared to the original project.
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Mining increases losses every year, reaching up to several billion zlotys a year
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The new regulations are also important for planning miners' holidays. They include not only employees of mines, but also of mechanical coal processing plants and administrative departments. The Act provides for the possibility of taking leave with the retention of 80%. remuneration calculated as for holiday leave, without the obligation to work, as well as one-off financial severance pay for people leaving mining companies.
Costs and scale of support for the mining sector in Poland
According to the Regulatory Impact Assessment, the cost of liquidation of hard coal mines over the next 10 years was estimated at PLN 11.275 billion.
Out of 44 thousand Approximately 3.5 thousand employees of PGG, PKW and Węglokoks Kraj will benefit from mining leave. peopleand on leave for employees of mechanical coal processing plants – 240 people.
In the case of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, it is expected that 3,000 people will take mining leave. employees, and 103 people on leave for mechanical coal processing plants, employing over 32,000. people at the end of 2024
