Employers' Debate Trustworthy: Raising wages yes, but in conjunction with economical development

raportcsr.pl 1 month ago

The emergence in wage levels is as much historical justice as the economical necessity. However, it is crucial that wages are linked to the condition of the economy and to undertake the essential labour marketplace reforms – this is 1 of the conclusions of the debate before the “Employer Trustworthy” contest.

The 15th edition of the “Employer Trustworthy” Competition was held on 5 November 2025 at the Warsaw School of Economics. She was preceded by an expert debate entitled “Dynamics of wage growth in the Polish economy – a contemporary problem or historical justice”, where experts discussed the correlation between wage growth and labour productivity, inflation and business competitiveness.

The debate was attended by:

Marcin Wiązekthe Ombudsman,
Piotr Wachowiak, Rector of Warsaw School of Economics,
Przemysław Litwiniuk, associate of the Polish Monetary Policy Council,
Elizabeth Chojna-The Spirit, National Bank of Poland.

Moderator of the debate was Tomasz Pietryga, Editor-in-Chief diary Legal Gazette.

The debate focused on the pace of wage growth in Poland and its economical and social consequences. Participants discussed whether the current wage growth is adequate for labour productivity and whether it contributes to inflation. The arguments were put forward that higher wages improve request and reduce poverty, but could reduce the competitiveness of companies. An crucial subject was besides the problem of flattening the budgetary structure and the request to improvement wage and migration mechanisms in the context of an ageing society and fresh technologies. Participants highlighted the issue of comparative poorness and deficiency of regulatory stableness that hinders business activity.

– On the 1 hand, we hear voices that rising wages reduce the competitiveness of companies that gotta adapt to the minimum wage and to the labour market. Experts indicate that the rate of wage growth exceeds productivity growth. On the another hand, there are arguments that higher wages are higher demand, little poverty, little economical emigration and a greater tendency to start a family, which, in the face of the demographic crisis, is of large importance – he has discussed red Tomasz Pietryga, asking whether the 2 positions could be reconciled.

Poland is doing well – but thanks to entrepreneurs

Prof. Elżbieta Chojna-Duch It addressed the issues of optimal economical development, highlighting the problems of wage inequality. She stressed that economical growth is simply a origin that allows wages to be raised due to the fact that they do not grow automatically but depend on the pace of economical growth. She pointed out that the dynamics of economical growth in Poland belongs to the highest – if not already highest – in the European Union.

The economist besides highlighted wage inequalities within the same professional groups. In the budgetary sphere (in the public finance sector), people with comparable qualifications – experience and education – are frequently paid respective times little due to inadequately composed multiplier budgetary criteria. The problem in the economical sector is the low level of pay compared to comparatively advanced minimum wage, which is simply a crucial burden for tiny and medium-sized enterprises and can lead to a simplification in employment. She besides stressed that the labour marketplace is besides changing in the context of the improvement of artificial intelligence (AI), which could consequence in a simplification in the number of jobs in the future.

– The answer to the editor's question is difficult, due to the fact that there is no comprehensive, unambiguous answer. It's complex due to the fact that it depends on many factors, on how we develop. And we are developing optimally in relation to what is happening in the planet and in the European Union, where these problems are very acute and the economy is stagnant. We must adapt to the conditions imposed by the war in Ukraine or customs problems and future problems of the European Union, which concern, inter alia, energy costs and energy policy prices, the Mercosur problem, the planned fresh taxes imposed in the European Union to increase the level of the alleged Union's own revenue, expenditure in the defence industry. Against the background of “European” Poland is doing rather well, but it is thanks to you – entrepreneurs – Poland has said Prof. Elżbieta Chojna-Duch.

Pursue the West, but paying attention to inflation

Prof. Przemysław Litviniak stressed Poland's advancement in making up for the Western countries in terms of productivity and wage levels. He besides discussed inflation problems resulting from the decoupling of wage growth from productivity growth. In his view, the rate of wage growth is comparatively advanced and their average level, calculated according to purchasing power parity, increased from around 63% of the EU average in 2012 to 74% in 2023. During the post-pandemic period, wage costs were peculiarly advanced and detached from productivity growth, which contributed to inflationary pressure. prof. Litviniak noted that the dynamics of wage growth is presently slowing down and approaching the level of productivity growth. In his opinion, the expanding minimum wage and the valorisation of lower wage forks, with simultaneous budgetary constraints in the advanced ranges, consequence in flattening of the wage structure. Therefore, solutions are needed to keep a reasonable pay gap. As an example, he pointed out the deficiency of rational basis for the usage of the same wage net in the provincial offices in Warsaw and Rzeszów, since the cost of surviving in both cities is importantly different.

– In line with the pace of wage growth and productivity growth and productivity productivity, the 2 factors should follow in the perfect model. We've been doing it for the last fewer years. The pandemi-postpandemic period has somewhat damaged the regularity that ruled this process. According to Eurostat for the year 2024, Poland, Ireland and Romania were among the 3 countries of the European Union with the fastest increase in hourly productivity. And this productivity in Poland increased in real terms by nearly 45% between 2010 and 2012, while the EU average was 11.3 percent. It's a immense advance," he said. Prof. Przemysław Litwiniuk, while pointing to areas requiring systemic improvement.

We have a fresh phenomenon of comparative poverty

Prof. Marcin Wiązek He discussed wage issues from the position of citizens' complaints, focusing on the budget sector and comparative poverty. As an RPO, he intervened in the budgetary sphere, including on civilian police workers who gain around a minimum salary. As he stated, there is simply a immense injustice in the budgetary sphere in the diversity of wages. About 27% of employees left the RPO office in 2 years. They went to another public sector institutions, e.g. the Office of the Ombudsman for the Rights of the Child, where they gain more (average PLN 10,000 alternatively of PLN 8000), having precisely the same qualifications.

The Ombudsman besides recalled that the increase in wages is linked to the costs which the employer must bear and that entrepreneurs complain about uncertainty, stableness and assurance in the state. The Ombudsman pointed out that a large group of citizens were affected by comparative poverty.

“We are dealing with a very worrying and unrecognized phenomenon in Poland. It is recognized by me on the basis of complaints that come to me. And as far as I know, experts call this phenomenon comparative poverty. This is about people who work, who earn, and yet can be treated as mediocre people in terms of different definitions. For example, people who gain money, have a salary, have a permanent job, but gain besides much to be able to benefit from social assistance, but not adequate to have credit and buy a flat or rent an flat under Warsaw conditions – he assessed Prof. Marcin Wiązek.

Consumption is, but with investments

Prof. Piotr Wachowiak he analysed wages from the position of the worker and employer and the impact of investments on economical growth, as well as demographic challenges of the labour market. In the opinion of the Rector of the School of Economics, it is crucial that the worker receives a wage in accordance with his/her competences, but besides the 1 he/she expects to avoid a change of job. prof. Wachowiak pointed out that well-earned workers are developing consumption, but the economy requires both consumption and investment. In the opinion of Prof. Wachowiak, pay differentiation is desirable – both between sectors and positions, as it indicates which areas are more innovative. The improvement of technology will foster wage increases as it will increase labour efficiency. An ageing society means that without fresh technologies, businesses could not do well. It is besides essential to make a smart immigration policy and to make an unpopular decision to rise the retirement age.

– There is an economy that should develop. And if workers gain well, they have more money, then consumption is developing. And now the question is, is it good that only consumption is developing? I, ladies and gentlemen, am the pupil of prof. Leszek Balcerowicz. And now we're at the university," he said. Prof. Piotr Wachowiak. – Consumption and investment must co-operate, due to the fact that without investment this economy will not develop. Unfortunately, this does not look good in Poland, due to the fact that investments account for about 20% of GDP. Compared to another European countries, this is much less. But we besides have a closed circle, due to the fact that if we don't take care of the workers, reward them properly, they'll be little innovative and little entrepreneurial.

Economic dualism

The debate showed the duality of the Polish economy: on the 1 hand, strong productivity growth in macroeconomic terms and dynamic pursuit of western countries, and on the another hand inflation problems resulting from the decoupling of wages from productivity. She besides pointed to the burning issues of inequality, flattening of wages (especially in the budgetary sphere) and structural challenges related to investment and demography. It is like a hydraulic mechanism: the sooner we want to catch the West by raising wages, the more force (inflation) we generate, especially if we skip the essential investments and structural reforms.

Jury of the competition

The Chapter consists of representatives of non-governmental institutions, business organisations, think-tanks and universities, including the National Chamber of Commerce, the Polish Promotional Emblem Foundation “Now Poland”, the XBW Ignacy Krasicki Foundation, the ESG Institute, the Staszica Institute, the Adam Smith Center, Warsaw Enterprise Institute, the Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers, the Business Institute, the Integration and Cooperation Association (the organizer of the Welconoma in Toruń) and the Polish economical Society.

Patrons and partners of events

Honorary Patronage This year they took the initiative: Ombudsman, Rector of Warsaw School of Economics, president of Warsaw Capital City, Ministry of Agriculture and agrarian Development, State Labour Inspection and Central Statistical Office.

Meritorian partners The competitions are: National Chamber of Commerce, Forum of liable Business, Confederation of Leviathan, Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers, Institute of civilian Affairs, ESG Pro, Warsaw Enterprise Institute, Foundation of the Polish Promotional Emblem “Now Poland”, Institute of Humanites, Association of Employers of Polish Clusters, Our Future Foundation, Foundation of Aid, Institute of Stress Psychology, Foundation Grand Press, Hubmedia, FAPA, Foundation of the Institute of Generation, Staszica Institute, Business Institute and Polish Association of Construction Employers.

Strategic Partner The competition is: National Bank of Poland.

Patrons of the Final Gala are: Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and agrarian Development, National Food Group, AGRO Applications, National Centre for Agriculture Support.

Partners are: AMS and the French-Polish Chamber of Commerce.

About the Contest

"Employer Trustworthy" is an initiative launched in 2009 by a number of NGOs, think tanks and universities.

The aim of the competition is to reward and advance companies that carry out interesting and innovative projects in the field of worker policy. The competition promotes good employer models, including social commitment, promotion of volunteer projects, availability and company inclusion. Today, socially liable companies are besides developing internship programmes, educating their employees and caring for their health.