Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki: everyone who leaves work has the right to receive a decent, dignified pension
16.08.2023
A law shall enter into effect that changes the nature of bridging pensions. It is a benefit that is given to people who are engaged in occupations with difficult conditions. The special nature of the work allows them to end their working life early. Until the receipt of the general pension, such people are entitled to the so-called bridging pension. Until now, under the 2009 solutions, bridging pensions were supposed to expire and limit early retirement. Today, however, this is changing. The pension system must be fair. We are repealing the expiring nature of bridging pensions. Employees who have worked hard for years under difficult conditions and carrying great responsibility deserve a decent benefit. The new solution will also increase the attractiveness of occupations with special working conditions.
Bridging pensions remain
Bridging pensions are available to people who perform work in special conditions or of a special nature. These are often professions with great responsibility that carry risks - steelworkers, rescuers, miners, drivers or air traffic controllers. Such people end their working life early. Until they are eligible for a general pension, they receive a so-called bridging pension.
Until now, according to the 2009 law, it was planned to abolish early retirement and thus also bridging pensions. Such plans disregarded the situation of people who have extremely demanding professions and deserve early retirement.
However, our government does not leave anyone alone, we support our citizens. That is why we have taken the decision to keep bridging pensions.
“We are getting rid of all sorts of taint from the times of wild capitalism, where the law of the jungle applied. And this act is also an act of justice,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during the signing ceremony of the law repealing the expiry of bridging pensions.
A strong economy allows for a fair pension system
The head of government pointed out that the entry into force of the law that maintains bridging pensions is the result of dialogue between the government and the trade unions. It is a dialogue with working people, which has made it possible to work out favourable solutions. The realisation and implementation of the trade unions' demands is possible above all thanks to the good condition of the Polish economy. Our labour market is improving, and further investments and good conditions for entrepreneurs and employees ensure our constant and dynamic growth.
“We have - compared to other European Union countries - the lowest unemployment. We also experience record economic growth,” the head of government pointed out. “We also have the highest compensation growth, far exceeding inflation rates looking at the last few years,” he added.
A fair labour market and a healthy economy for our country are based on increasing productivity and the value of the employee. Higher skills, higher compensation and higher quality of workplaces - these are the directions of our economic model.
Our pension policy is based on social solidarity
The law that repeals the expiry of bridging pensions is part of our vision of a socially just and solidarity-based policy. Since 2015, we have introduced a number of ground-breaking measures that support pensioners, among others:
- 13th pension on a permanent basis;
- 14th pension on a permanent basis;
- tax-free pension;
- record valorisation - as much as 114.8% in 2023.
“It is, after all, our record valorisations, the tax-free pension up to PLN 2,500 per month, as well as the 13th and 14th pensions, which have been made permanent in the pension system, that correspond, cooperate with this law that the President has just signed. This is a holistic, comprehensive look at the labour market, which is a key part of the entire economic bloodstream,” stressed Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
In addition, we support pensioners with a wide range of beneficial programmes:
- Free medicines for seniors 75+ - since September 2016, people who are 75 years and older can benefit from free medicines. We are successively expanding their list. To date, more than 3.9 million seniors have benefited from the programme, purchasing 429 million packages of medicines. As part of the Nowe Konkrety campaign, we will expand this programme to people 65+, as well as children and young people.
- The Senior + programme - is a government support for local governments in the establishment and ongoing operation of Day Care Centres and Clubs for Seniors. Between 2015 and 2021, 1,079 support centres were established in Poland. More than 28,000 seniors are benefiting from the programme. A total of PLN 300 million was allocated for its co-financing.
- Active + programme - we allocate funds to support projects for seniors. As part of the programme, between 2021 and 2025 NGOs will implement projects worth a total of PLN 200 million.
