About 50,000 complaints about the lack of payments were received by the National Labor Inspectorate in 2024. The office issued decisions for a record amount of PLN 270 million. It's like working for free. In addition, complaints also apply to violations related to working time. Last year's Signalers 'Signalers' Protection Act has also proved to be a misfire. There are practically no applications.
The Act on the Protection of Signalers entered into force on September 25, 2024. In addition to the internal notification, the applicant may use two other signaling options. The first is an external application to the Ombudsman or a public authority. The second is public disclosure, e.g. through media or social networking sites.
The head of the State Labor Inspectorate, who looks at the functioning of these provisions, assessed that the Act did not apply in practice, although before its implementation he expected the “balance of applications”.
– It turned out that this law does not work at all. There are practically no applications. I thought that everyone would want to be a signalist not to be dismissed from work. Because making a signal application provides protection against termination of the employment contract Stanecki reminded.
Poles contaminated by the previous system. Signalist = informer
As he pointed out, the Ombudsman has been received by just a few hundred letters since last year, of which only about 100 were recognized as signaling reports.
– The Act on the protection of signalists due to the fact that it did not include the possibility of submitting notifications in the field of labor law, it ceased to be interesting for the employees – said the Chief Labor Inspector.
He pointed out that the reason for this is also “contaminating the older generation with the previous system.”
– For them, a signalist is a informer, a person who cannot be given a hand. I think that it takes years to change, but also educational campaigns convincing that informing about violations of public interest or the Treasury serves society – added Stanecki.
Poles are afraid that they will be recognized as informers when they complain to their workplace.Shutterstock
Pursuant to the regulations, a signalist can be any person exposed to retaliation after making a notification, regardless of the basis and form of work. The same help is also entitled to a person who helps the signaller and a person associated with him. Retaliation may consist, for example, in deprivation of promotion, increases, prizes or in extreme cases of dismissal.
Record year. Employees did not receive PLN 270 million
The inspection itself goes to complaints on the basis of another Act – the Labor Code. According to the head of PIP, they usually relate to not paying remuneration and violations related to working time. – These problems have been appearing in every report for years – emphasized Stanecki.
He announced that in 2024 about 50,000 were received. complaints. – Last year was record -breaking at all, because legal funds in the form of commands and payroll decisions amounted to a total of PLN 270 million. So employees did not receive PLN 270 million. This concerned 74,000 people. This number can be compared to the city of Inowrocław – pointed out the head of PIP.
Four days of work? People make them work six
As he explained, there are a lot of complaints that the employer does not comply with the five -day work week, because he expects work six days a week. – It sounds strange when a debate is ongoing to introduce a four -day work week. Meanwhile, labor inspectors must enforce a five -day regulation. I mean small companies, for example shops, small commercial facilities, where our inspectors come across this problem quite often – said the Chief Labor Inspector.
Source of the main photo: Shutterstock