Unions put forward own version of plans for closure of coal mines

Mining unions in Poland have put forward their own proposals on the end of coal mining in the country, after expressing their dissatisfaction with the government’s plans.

Under a framework agreement signed by the government and the unions in September 2020, Poland is to end hard-coal mining by 2049. This will involve the closure of 13 mines and the loss of 26,500 jobs concentrated in the Silesian region.

However, the September agreement left the details to be settled to a future “social pact”. The government’s initial proposals for this pact, running to only five pages and with very few details, were rejected by the unions as inadequate.

They have now presented their own version of the social pact, which is centred on the need for an industrial development fund for Silesia to support new employment as well as social support — including extensive periods of paid layoff — for miners who lose their jobs.

The pact is expected to be signed this month and, because it involves state subsidies, will then go to the European Commission for approval.