The announced by the Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki and activated in the previous year “Good Start” programme proved to be a hit. Almost all authorised persons benefited therefrom. The benefit – PLN 300 on school supplies – reached 4.4 million of students in total.

“One of the elderly ladies wrote a poem in which she called me an angel. Then I understood the importance of the work we do. We are the only help for many elderly persons in their daily life”, said a care assistant with 15 years of experience. With the 75+ Care programme, municipalities may increase the number of hours of senior citizen services.

They learn to surf the net, cook and attend inter-generational workshops - as part of projects implemented under the Programme for Social Engagement of the Elderly (ASOS).

The centenary of the establishment of the Public Employment Services was celebrated with a festive gala with a participation of the Minister, Elżbieta Rafalska. The most distinguished employment offices were awarded.

The Council of Ministers adopted a bill on parental supplementary benefit. Due to the new provisions, persons who brought up at least four children and do not have necessary means of subsistence, will acquire the right to receive the benefit. Over 801 million zloty has been reserved for the “Mother 4+” programme in the state budget for the year 2019. The benefit will be paid as of March.

A record growth in the number of day homes and Senior+ clubs, a huge programme budget and an even stronger focus on the needs of senior citizens from rural areas - it was a crucial year for the senior citizen policy. In 2019, the budget of the Senior+ Programme was 80 million PLN!

The unemployment rate registered in December 2018 amounted to 5.9 percent, as results from the initial data of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. At the end of the last year, the number of the unemployed amounted to 971.3 thousand persons.

The minimum wage will amount to PLN 2,250 as of 1 January 2019. This is by PLN 150 more than in the previous year and by PLN 500 more than in 2015. Whereas, the minimum hourly rate amounts to PLN 14.70.

Significant changes to the Large Family Card are coming. As of 1 January 2019 the card authorising to many discounts will be granted to parents who have or had at least three dependent children, irrespectively of their age at the moment of submitting the application.

As of the beginning of the new year we are going to face changes in the act on limitation of trade on Sundays and holidays and some other days. Soon, shopping will be possible only on the last Sunday of the month and not, as it has been so far, on the first and last.