Anti-crisis Act – a law without effect

The Fund of Guaranteed Workers’ Benefits received 124 applications based on so-called Anti-crisis Act which was adopted in order to counteract the effects of the economic crisis in companies. The total amount applied for is 18.5 million PLN and cover some 10 thousand workers. Most of the applications request payments due to forced stoppages and reduced working time. 67 agreements of payments were concluded so far. However the employers seem to be reluctant to increase the workers’ skills in the time of crisis, despite funds reserved for this purpose in the Labour Fund. The entire amount transferred so far for this purpose is only 146 thousand PLN for the training of 53 workers. The Act was adopted in July 2009 as a result of the “anti-crisis pact” agreed upon by the employers and trade unions, however during the parliamentary works some of the agreed provisions were changed against the opinion of the trade unions.