The parliamentary majority has referred a draft amendment to the State Labor Inspectorate Act for further work, despite strong resistance from entrepreneurs and some trade unionists. Simultaneously, the Polish political scene is grappling with a deep crisis in the judiciary. Elections for the new First President of the Supreme Court are underway, along with a dispute over appointments to the National Council of the Judiciary, which deepens the legal dualism in the country and intensifies the conflict between the government and part of the judicial community.

PIP Reform in Committee

The draft granting inspectors the right to administratively establish an employment relationship moved to a second reading despite business protests.

Controversy Over Campaign

The use of memes and cat videos to promote the labor reform by the ministry sparked a wave of criticism for infantilizing the debate.

Election of Supreme Court President

Six candidates for First President of the Supreme Court were indicated, with a boycott by some judges questioning the legality of the procedure.

Clash Over KRS

The Sejm aims to change the composition of the National Council of the Judiciary via a resolution, intensifying the dispute over the legality of judicial appointments.

The parliamentary majority decided to refer the draft amendment to the State Labor Inspectorate (PIP) Act to the Committee on Social Policy and Family. The main goal of the reform is to curb the abuse of junk contracts by granting inspectors the authority to transform civil-law contracts and B2B arrangements into employment contracts. The draft evokes strong emotions; employers' organizations warn of business paralysis, and OPZZ Chairman Piotr Ostrowski, while supporting the direction of changes, described the current version of the draft as worse than previous proposals due to procedural delays. The State Labor Inspectorate was established in 1919 by Marshal Józef Piłsudski, and its tasks evolved from supervising workplace hygiene to protecting workers' rights in the modern economy. At the same time, the Ministry of Labor under the leadership of Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk caused a media storm with an unusual information campaign. Videos featuring cats were used to explain the legal intricacies of the reform, which the opposition and some commentators deemed an unserious expenditure of public funds. Within the ruling camp itself, a dispute arose – MP Artur Łącki from the Civic Coalition publicly criticized the minister for lack of real action and receiving a salary despite no results, indicating internal tensions within the governing coalition. Simultaneously, a crisis is affecting the foundations of the justice system. The General Assembly of Supreme Court Judges selected six candidates for the position of First President of the Supreme Court, but this process is boycotted by so-called 'old judges,' who refuse to participate in a procedure involving persons appointed after 2018. Meanwhile, the Sejm adopted a resolution aimed at terminating the terms of current members of the National Council of the Judiciary and electing new judges, which the opposition calls an illegal action. The Supreme Court in Poland is the body supervising the activity of common and military courts, and its origins date back to the times of the Kingdom of Poland and 1917. „Mogła robić co chce, lub nic nie robić, a i tak pensję dostała.” (She could do whatever she wanted, or do nothing, and still get her salary.) — Artur Łącki

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the need to repair the rule of law through changes in the KRS and defend the PIP reform as a fight against exploitation in the labor market. Conservative media highlight the legal chaos caused by Sejm resolutions and the blow to entrepreneurship through new PIP powers.

Mentioned People

  • Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk — Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy responsible for the PIP reform.
  • Artur Łącki — MP from the Civic Coalition who critically assessed the actions of the Minister of Labour.
  • Piotr Ostrowski — Chairman of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ), commenting on changes to the Labor Inspectorate Act.