The administrator of PG SILESIA (Przedsiębiorstwo Górnicze “SILESIA” Sp. z o.o.) in Czechowice-Dziedzice announced that it intends to lay off the entire workforce, 754 people. Collective redundancies are to begin as early as 18 December this year. “Minister of Energy Mr Motyka said that he would not leave the miners to their fate. We sent a letter requesting an urgent meeting. As for the date of the meeting, I heard: ‘The minister has time for you at the turn of February and March 2026.’ Although this week the minister was in Katowice to discuss the problems of the mining industry,” says Grzegorz Babij in an interview with Niezależna, expressing his bitterness; he is the chair of the Inter-Enterprise Trade Union Organization of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ “Solidarność”) at PG “Silesia”.
PG “Silesia” in Czechowice-Dziedzice produces hard coal intended mainly for the energy sector, but also for retail sales. Coal resources exceed 500 million tonnes, while methane resources are estimated at approx. 1.1 billion cubic meters. The plant employs 754 people. It is one of the largest employers in the Podbeskidzie region and a private mine. The owner of the mine is the publicly listed company Bumech from Katowice, which has been undergoing restructuring since 17 November last year. On 17 November 2025, the court-appointed administrator, attorney Marcin Ferdyn, announced that he intends to dismiss the entire workforce of PG “Silesia”.
The redundancies are to start on 18 December this year and last until the end of March next year.
“We are analyzing the situation of the entire sector”
We asked the press office of the Ministry of Energy (ME) about the issue of state support for “Silesia”.
“PG ‘Silesia’ sp. z o.o. is undergoing restructuring, which under the provisions of restructuring law makes it impossible to grant public aid to this entity. The Ministry of Energy is continuously analyzing the situation of the entire mining sector,” we learned from the terse comment of the ME’s Communication Department that we received.
We therefore asked the parliamentary opposition about this problem. Marek Wesoły, Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets and the plenipotentiary of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s government for the transformation of energy companies and coal mining, an MP from Law and Justice (PiS), said:
The “Silesia” mine is facing a situation in which, by the end of March 2026, the entire workforce could be out on the street. This is a special case. Employees face the loss of their jobs overnight, without safeguards. Law and Justice submitted amendments to the bill on the functioning of the mining industry that was being processed in December this year, which were intended to provide people with protections. I am surprised that they did not meet with approval. This was also one of the reasons why we did not vote for that law. We believe that the employees of the “Silesia” mine should also be covered by protections. If the government nevertheless decided not to include “Silesia” in the law, the company should receive other concrete support proposals. Protections for people, possibilities for relocating employees. And there are no signals from the government that it wants to do anything for this company. Private business is supposed to fend for itself! The truth is that this mine also – not – because of its own incompetence has problems. Only because of the European Union. In the coal industry, the main causes of the collapse are the “Green Deal” and ETS fees. That is obvious! Without such burdens, “Silesia” could also operate normally!
“This is a breach of market balance”
In December this year, Bumech S.A. applied to the European Commission arguing that miners at PG “Silesia” will not, among other things, be able to benefit from protections in the same way as employees of other plants, which constitutes a breach of market balance. The company also complained about unfair competition resulting from the fact that the plant has private capital. It is one of the largest private mines in Poland.
“I do not support the law on the functioning of the mining industry because I believe it will only accelerate the liquidation of the sector, but without it the “Silesia” mine, due to the fact that employees cannot count on any protections, will be ploughed under with white gloves. Deputy Minister of Energy Mr Zmarzły, responsible for mining, said that the “Silesia” mine cannot benefit from support because it is in restructuring. Is it really impossible to make a legislative amendment that takes into account that the state can help a company in sanation proceedings? Everything can be done! You just need good will,” says Grzegorz Babij in an interview with Niezalezna.pl, the chair of the Inter-Enterprise Trade Union Organization of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ “Solidarność”) at PG “Silesia”.
Representatives of Bumech, the administrator and the social side are still conducting 20-day consultations until 18 December this year. This is the time to reverse the redundancy procedure.
“Minister of Energy Mr Motyka said that he would not leave our miners to their fate. We sent a letter requesting an urgent meeting. As for the date of the meeting, I heard: ‘The minister has time for you at the turn of February and March 2026.’ Although this week the minister was in Katowice to discuss the problems of the mining industry” – Grzegorz Babij reminds. – Trade union organizations have already met with the administrator twice; unfortunately, to questions about the redundancy plan and severance pay, we did not receive a concrete answer. We were told that a response would be delivered in writing next Monday.
“Guys, fight!”
Meanwhile, Bumech S.A. submitted an offer to the sanation estate administrator of PGS to lease the Czechowice plant. The company declared that it would take over selected employees pursuant to Article 23(1) of the Labour Code. In addition, as the owner of the mine reported, on 5 December this year a letter from the sanation estate administrator of “Silesia” was filed with the Katowice-East District Court in Katowice – 10th Commercial Division, containing a motion to discontinue the sanation proceedings.
In the longer term it may turn out – I am not saying that it must be so, but it may be – that the company’s management returns and takes over its duties, creditors enter the accounts because there will be no so-called legal protection in the form of sanation proceedings, and there will be no other option than to declare bankruptcy. As for what leasing the plant would mean for employees – is it a good offer? I do not know. I do not understand it. Perhaps it is beneficial; I do not want to criticize it right away. We have to look at the matter coolly. We are analyzing it with our lawyers. What comforts me most is when employees come and still lift our spirits. “Guys, fight! Show that we care! We are with you!” – concludes the chair of the Inter-Enterprise Trade Union Organization of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ “Solidarność”) at PG “Silesia”.