In consequence to vetoing the amendment to the Act on Assistance to the Citizens of Ukraine, the Entrepreneurship Council published a Position. It stresses the urgent request to make unchangeable and predictable legal solutions. They are to cover residence, employment and access to social benefits. The Council notes that the deficiency of clear regulation threatens to have serious consequences for the labour market, the economy and the strategy of public institutions.
The following is the content of the position of the Enterprise Council.
Let's build together, not destroy!
The Enterprise Council adopted with concern the decision to veto the amendment of the Act governing the position of Ukrainian citizens in Poland. We realize that this is simply a socially and politically delicate area, but it is crucial for the Polish economy to regulate this issue rapidly and responsibly.
Given the current situation, we call for urgent dialog and unchangeable solutions in 3 key areas:
Regulation of residence rules
The extension of temporary protection and the clear definition of the position of Ukrainian citizens in Poland is simply a condition for the functioning of the state. The deficiency of fresh regulations means that hundreds of thousands of cases must be handled individually by the administration, which threatens to paralyse the offices, extend procedures to months, and consequently legal uncertainty for Ukrainian citizens and public institutions. Poland needs unchangeable and transparent solutions to guarantee predictability and legal order. Their deficiency weakens the image of our country as a predictable and liable country.
Regulating access to the labour market
More than 1 million Ukrainian citizens presently work legally in Poland, which accounts for almost 6 percent of the full labour market. In many industries – Construction, agriculture, transport, services – their share is much larger. The legal work of Ukrainians is real gross for the budget exceeding PLN 15 billion, 5 times the social benefits received, as well as an increase in Poland's GDP by nearly 2% in 2024. The deficiency of an extension of regulations means that legal employment will be hampered after 30 September 2025. This threatens to have dramatic consequences for tens of thousands of companies: failure of workers, decrease in production and simplification in services, problems with the implementation of contracts, and a simplification in revenues to the state budget.
Rational access to social benefits
The amendment provided for the continuation of social support – including access to wellness care, education or household benefits – based on existing solutions. Failure to adopt these rules means a legal gap and the hazard that hundreds of thousands of people will lose simple social security. This is not only a humanitarian problem, but besides a threat to social stability, to the education and wellness system. Clear and rational rules for benefits, eliminating apparent abuse and consistent with common sense, are needed to keep social cohesion and predictability of state action.
We are convinced that in the interests of the Polish economy and the stableness of the labour market, it is essential to rapidly find solutions through dialog between all parties to the legislative process. unchangeable rules on residence, employment and social benefits are both in the interests of citizens Ukraine surviving and working in Poland, as well as Polish entrepreneurs and the full society. We as Business Council we are ready for a constructive dialog with the government, parliament and president in order to find a lasting solution that takes into account the best interests of Poland, the European Union and Ukraine.
Poland has been providing shelter and support to millions of citizens since 2022 Ukraine fleeing the war. The heart reflex of millions of Poles and the strategy of social benefits and access to the labour marketplace is simply a Polish contribution to building a post-war unchangeable governance in our part of Europe. We can't throw it away.
Signatures under the position of the Enterprise CouncilAbout the Enterprise Council
Business Council is simply a forum of cooperation of representatives of the 9 largest organisations representing entrepreneurs and employers in Poland. Originally established on 17 November 2003, it was revived on 24 March 2020 to rescue the Polish economy at hazard of pandemic and recession. The Council represents nearly 330 000 employers with more than 8 million employees. The Presidency of the Council shall be word of office. The Council is presently chaired by the ABSL. Members:
- Association of Business Services Leaders (ABSL),
- Business Centre Club,
- Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs,
- Confederation of Leviathan,
- National Chamber of Commerce,
- Polish Business Council,
- Employers of Poland,
- Association of Polish Banks,
- Association of Polish Crafts.
Source: National Chamber of Commerce
