The Ministry of Family and Social Policy has summarised its activities in 2022. “It was another year full of unexpected and unprecedented challenges. As a nation, and as a government, we have once again collectively passed the test of sensitivity, of concern for the fate of families and for those for whom we have a special responsibility: children, seniors and people with disabilities”, said Minister Marlena Maląg.

The year began with the implementation of the Family Care Capital. Thanks to this programme, families can receive up to PLN 12,000 for each second and subsequent child between one and three years of age. The benefit is available regardless of family income. More than 600,000 children have benefited from support under this programme, with more than PLN 3 billion paid out for this purpose.

The Family Care Capital is a complement to the already implemented financial support system, of which the ‘Family 500+’ programme has been a pillar since 2016.

“We have announced a ‘turbocharge’ in the ‘Toddler+’ programme, with a budget of PLN 5.5 billion in the new competition. There will be 100,000 more childcare places for children up to the age of 3. In 2015, there were around 84,000 such places, now there are already 230,000”, Minister Maląg pointed out.

From next year, remote working will be permanently included in the Labour Code, which will also be a big improvement for parents. Remote working is a very good solution, which also proved its worth during the pandemic. Such legal solutions and unprecedented financial support – introduced as part of the Crisis Shield – have helped to protect jobs.

In 2023, the minimum wage will increase to PLN 3,600. In 2022, benefits have been increased by 7 %, instead of the statutory 5.7 %. In 2023, the valorisation of pensions will be done by amount and percentage. The lowest benefits will increase by at least PLN 250. This is a historic increase. According to estimates, the cost of next year’s valorisation is PLN 41.8 billion.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński