Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – The mining sector will absorb less funds from the taxpayers. In the years 2007-15 the restructuring will cost PLN 2.3 billion (EUR 591.1m). Trade unions protest.
On December 31st 2006, the three-year term of the law concerning the restructuring of the coal industry expires. New rules should come into force on January 1st otherwise the mines will get no subsidies from the state. In the years 2003-2005 they amounted to PLN 2.8 billion, or about PLN 930m annually. According to the bill on the coal industry restructuring in the years 2007-15, the costs of the restructuring should amount to only PLN 2.3 billion, or PLN 150m annually. This is good news for taxpayers.
“The bill is now being discussed by different ministries. Next week, it may be viewed by the government”, Pawel Poncyljusz, the deputy Minister of Economy said.
Although the document has not been officially approved of yet, trade unions are very worried.
“We have already submitted our comments. The previous law has not been fully implemented – Kompania Weglowa did not get PLN 400m. We also expect the budget to support 30 percent of investment projects connected with new technologies for the coal”, Dominik Kolorz, the head of the coal unit of the Solidarnosc trade union said.
The trade unions do not like the provisions concerning the social package for miners leaving the mines. According to the bill, they would receive PLN 75,000 of one-time compensation, PLN 50,000 of credit and attend training up to PLN 7,000.
“The trade unions expect these provisions to be rejected because the compensation would be paid by the companies and not the budget”, the deputy Minister of Economy said.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.257)