“Those who have been forced to cease their business activities and have suffered losses due to the ban on the use of the Odra will be provided with the support”, said Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Henryk Kowalczyk in the programme about support in connection with the ecological disaster on the Odra.

Demonstrating a 50 % drop in revenue due to the ban on using the Oder River will entitle people to apply for compensation for this loss.

As the Deputy Prime Minister explained, assistance will be given to those who were forced to stop their business activities and suffered losses, mainly entrepreneurs in tourism, fishing and fish processing.

“The support for entrepreneurs will be provided by the Labour Fund, which is in a very good financial condition. There is a very large reserve of funds, because the situation on the labour market is excellent and unemployment is at a record low”, said Henryk Kowalczyk.

Recently the government plenipotentiary for small and medium-sized enterprises Olga Semeniuk met with entrepreneurs affected by the Odra disaster.

“I asked the entrepreneurs themselves about the scale of the problem in the fishing, catering and hotel industries. We also discussed possible forms of support. Entrepreneurs want it to be a quick form, most likely using existing solutions, such as a standstill pay, a small grant or a surcharge on an employee’s salary”, Semeniuk said.

On Wednesday, 24 August, the list of legislative and programme work of the Council of Ministers was published with the assumptions of the draft law on special support for entities affected by the ecological situation on the Odra River.

The information states that “a single benefit will be paid in the amount of PLN 3010 for each insured person reported by 31 July 2022 for pension and disability insurance with its starting date no later than 1 July 2022.”

Adrian Andrzejewski