A show of talents, the presentation of handicraft, meetings, conversations, an exchange of experiences and, most of all, great fun – such was Intergenerational Activity Day in Żyrardów with the participations of seniors from all parts of Poland. The culmination point of the programme was the signature of the Thirteenth Pension Act by President Andrzej Duda.

What does social and solidary economy mean? It is an economy where commercial activity serves society, e.g., through the employment and integration of persons who are in a difficult situation, disabled or endangered by social exclusion. Today, around 94,000 social economy entities operate in Poland.

The year 2020, which has largely ended in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, has been a time of great challenges. Despite many difficulties and significant outlays, for instance, in support of entrepreneurs and job protection, all existing social programmes have been implemented without any disruptions. – Today, these programmes have become particularly important and have become a guarantee of safety for numerous families. No one has been taken away, emphasized Marlena Maląg, Minister of Family and Social Policy.

An expert team in the field of new technologies and privacy established by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Affairs has just started working. ‘Our goal is to work out the best possible solutions for the protection of children on the Internet while respecting rights and freedoms of adults,’ explains Deputy Minister Barbara Socha, Government Plenipotentiary for Demographic Policy.

From January to December 2019, a total number of 787,800 of parental leaves was used by 515,000 women and 212,800 men. Only in December, 282,400 people were on leave related to the most important role in life.

The key task of the Supervisory Board of the State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (PFRON) is to initiate, give opinions on and approve programs supporting the occupational rehabilitation and social integration of disabled persons. On Friday, the official appointment of members of the Supervisory Board of PFRON for the term 2020–2023 took place in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. The President of the Board became Paweł Wdówik – Secretary of State in the Ministry of Family and the government plenipotentiary for disabled persons.

‘Prospects for inhabitants of rural areas’ – this is the title of the third cycle of conferences initiated by the President of Poland. During meetings with members of self-government bodies, individual ministries, including the family department, present programs that may have a real impact on rural areas and their inhabitants. Today, the first conference of the cycle took place in Kolno, Podlasie, in the presence of President Andrzej Duda.

Iwona Michałek, Paweł Wdówik and Alina Nowak were appointed as Deputy Ministers of Family, Labour and Social Policy. The post of the Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled People was taken up by Paweł Wdówik, while the post of the Government Plenipotentiary for Social and Solidarity Economy was taken up by Iwona Michałek.

The New Year brought good news to Polish employees. From January 1 2020 the minimum wage increased by as much as PLN 350, to reach PLN 2,600, and the minimum hourly rate increased to PLN 17.00. – Moreover, from this year the seniority allowance will not be included in the minimum wage – reminds Marlena Maląg, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

2020 will bring important changes for workers and employers. In turn, institutions dealing with professional and social rehabilitation of disabled people will receive more support for their activities.