President Karol Nawrocki has signed an amendment to the Mining Act, Minister Karol Rabenda from the Chancellery of the President announced. The amendment provides, among other things, protective measures for employees leaving work in mining enterprises.
“The Act is not perfect—we are aware of that. After talks with the social partners, the President decided to put forward an initiative to amend this Act so that it covers all miners. We cannot allow a situation in which workers in the same sector are treated differently in Poland,” Minister Rabenda stated.
The new regulations are set to enter into force on January 1, 2026. The date is significant due to procedures related, among other things, to the commencement on that date of the liquidation of the Bobrek mine operated by Węglokoks Kraj, as well as the planned merger of the Bielszowice and Halemba operations of the Ruda mine by the Polish Mining Group (PGG).
The Mining Act: What Are Its Key Provisions?
The amendment defines, among other things, the conditions for eligibility for miners’ leave and leave for certain other employees (at 80 percent of remuneration calculated as for annual leave, without the obligation to perform work), as well as eligibility for one-off severance payments of PLN 170,000 exempt from personal income tax (PIT). Severance payments will cover employees of the Polish Mining Group, the Southern Coal Concern, Węglokoks Kraj, Jastrzębska Coal Company, and, in the future, Bogdanka.
The Act provides protective measures for all employees of mining enterprises. This will enable administrative staff or employees working within specialized units of the companies—such as maintenance or investment units—to benefit from these protections.
The Regulatory Impact Assessment for the proposed amendment estimates that the cost of liquidating hard coal mines over the next ten years will amount to PLN 11.275 billion. It indicates that, out of 44,000 employees of PGG, PKW, and Węglokoks Kraj, 3,500 people will take miners’ leave, and 240 people will take leave designated for employees of coal mechanical processing plants. In the case of JSW, it is estimated that 3,000 people will take miners’ leave and 103 people will take leave for employees of coal mechanical processing plants, with employment exceeding 32,000 people at the end of 2024.
“Solidarity” Thanks the President
The President’s signature has already prompted a response from the chairman of the Solidarity trade union, Piotr Duda.
“I thank President Karol Nawrocki for listening to the voice of Solidarity and for announcing an initiative to amend the Act on the functioning of hard coal mining. Miners are counting on fairness and on being covered by the amendment regardless of the facility at which they work,” he wrote on the X.com platform.