Government to slash over 30,000 public sector jobs

2009-08-18



The government has outlined a plan to cut at least 10% of public sector jobs by the middle of 2010, as part of efforts to reduce public spending amid the fiscal pressures caused by the economic downturn. It also plans to freeze the public-sector wage bill at 92% of its 2009 value in both 2010 and 2011.
The savings for the general government sector are estimated at PLN 270-430m (€66-104m) in 2010 and PLN 1.2-1.3bn (€291-316m) in each of the three following years. Approximately 31,600 of the more than 358,000 public sector workers may lose their jobs as a result.
The plan, which applies to full-time positions only, will hit all parts of central government, including various agencies, funds, and institutions such as the National Health Fund (NFZ), the Social Insurance Office (ZUS), or the Farmers' Social Insurance Fund (KRUS). However, the prime minister will reserve the right to spare certain departments.