INTERVENTION OF MR REMIGIUSZ HENCZEL

AMBASSADOR of the POLISH REPUBLIC to the UN in GENEVA

THE 103^nd SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE 11^TH JUNE 2014.

Dear Chairman
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Each session of the International Labour Organization is of importance from the perspective of the workers, employers and ministers of labour. It is also meaningful for enhancing social dialogue at each level. I deeply believe that this conference may also become momentous. This is because of the first in the history review and complement of the fundamental convention. The conference will also focus on recommendation on transition from informal to formal economy. A special procedure on implementing the amendments to the Code to the Maritime Labour Convention shall be applied for the first time. In my opinion, when observing the outcomes of international crisis, we should mainly focus on employment, which - in the course of this session - shall be discussed in details both in the Committee and during the plenary session.

The Government of the Republic of Poland supports the concept of sustainable labour market development presented by the ILO. Poland is deeply aware of the need for comprehensive approach to employment especially in the area of specifying the trouble spots of the current policy. Poland supports and implements in practice the actions aiming at greater inclusion of less favoured groups - in particular youth, women and 50+ employees. In this context, the Government of the Republic of Poland recognizes the need to include the social aid structures in the professional activation process.

Unemployment among young people remains definitely an unprecedented social issue. Unemployment in this age category poses a threat of a ‘lost generation’ syndrome, resulting in wasting human and social capital delivered by significant state expenses - e.g. in education. Thus Poland, similarly to the other Member States, has drawn-up the ‘Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan’ following the recommendations of the European Commission. This paper, along with the provisions of the Act on promotion of employment and labour market institutions, anticipates applying of the new instruments enabling shortening the duration of young people unemployment to 4 months (from registration in the reemployment service). The amended act stipulates application of innovative instruments, such as internship and training bills as well as loan programme targeted on development of entrepreneurship among young people.

Poland tackles youth unemployment in comprehensive manner. Innovative legal and planning activities are delivered on the basis of partnership of multiple entities (strategic partners): public employment services, and other public and collective partners. Supporting and development of youth entrepreneurship and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises development is one of the key actions.

In my opinion, social dialog is the key to solutions for the labour market. Thus, the role of social partners in managing the funds from the Labour Fund as well as labour market policy programming and monitoring has been increased. In addition, the Labour Market Councils acquired the decision-making competences in the area of the National Training Fund operation, allowing the social partners to decide on the allocation of funds for trainings for the groups of employees, companies/sectors and regions in need in a greater degree than previously.

Mr. Chairman

I would like to express my deepest thanks to the Director General for his report ‘Fair migration. Setting an ILO Agenda’, creating the opportunity to tripartite discussion on the key issue of labour migration. We will all agree that the global crisis, resulting in among others a pressure to reduce labour costs, may contribute to worsened condition of certain categories of employees, including, in particular, the migrants. Therefore, ensuring by the target countries the fair mobility conditions to the Polish practice in the area of migration adheres to the provisions of the European Commission Communication The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility. It should also be emphasized that both Polish labour law and the provisions of the Act on promotion of employment and labour market institutions are of anti-discriminatory nature.

Three ILO conventions are of primary significance for guaranteeing basic laws of migrant workers. Increased employment, social dialogue development, in particular in context of supporting public policy and promoting corporate social responsibility are the actions to determine the directions to be followed by the governments and social partners. Only joint efforts will allow us to find effective solutions of such strategic problems as unemployment, demographic and environmental challenges as well as threats to democracy and sustainable development. The ILO initiatives may act as the example of searching global solutions for enhancing regional and national initiatives.

Although the social dialogue in Poland experiences some difficulties nowadays, we can observe positive features in this regard, namely revival of autonomous dialogue between social partners. Hopefully the talks on the future of dialogue will result in a consensus on a new formula of social dialogue as well as will contribute to preparation of new provisions in such matters as representativeness and collective bargaining.

Thank you!