Biznes Fakty
Transfer of a huge amount. The Ministry explains
The Ministry of State Assets has allocated nearly PLN 964 million to Poczta Polska to address expenses associated with the obligation to deliver services in 2023, as announced by the ministry on Thursday. This funding was made possible through a decision from the European Commission.
„On Thursday, March 13, the Ministry of State Assets provided Poczta Polska with a targeted subsidy amounting to PLN 963,619,096.38,” stated the ministry in its announcement. It clarified that the ability to make this disbursement stemmed from last year’s initiatives by the MAP leadership with the European Commission.
This refers to the ruling by the European Commission issued in mid-November of the previous year, which affirmed „the conformity of state aid involving the financing of the net costs for Poczta Polska SA for the years 2021-2025 with European legislation.” The specific amount of nearly PLN 964 million was determined by the President of the Office of Electronic Communications in a decision dated January 3 of this year.
Universal postal services
MAP reminded that, according to the current regulations, Poczta Polska is eligible for a subsidy if the company experiences a financial loss in a given year from the provision of universal postal services.
„This subsidy represents state aid that may be granted in line with the provisions of the EC ruling issued following the notification, during the timeframe in which that ruling remains in effect,” the ministry elaborated.
The request for the disbursement of these funds was submitted by Poczta on January 29, 2025, and was subsequently sanctioned by the ministry.
Read also: „Attack on our jobs”. Trade unionists speak out
Transformation at the Polish Post Office
Poczta Polska is presently engaged in several legal actions concerning labor disputes, which are tied to the Transformation Plan being executed by the management. According to CEO Sebastian Mikosz, this plan aims to convert the operator „into a contemporary courier-retail-financial-digital entity.”
The Management Board has rescinded the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which became void at the beginning of March this year. Since February 12, trade unions active at Poczta Polska have been conducting an „occupation protest,” maintaining a continuous presence at the company’s headquarters in Warsaw.
Simultaneously, the operator is implementing a Voluntary Redundancy Program (VRP) and initiating group layoffs. The VRP allows for the termination of employment contracts by mutual consent. It also includes a protection scheme, which, in addition to the severance pay mandated by law, provides for compensation that can be 9 or 5 times the basic salary (as of the end of the previous year). In cases of higher compensation, it is disbursed in nine monthly installments, while the smaller amount is provided within 21 days of employment termination.
The program has encompassed approximately 5,000 employees. The post office reported that 90 percent of participants accepted the offer, with the remaining individuals facing group layoffs. At the start of March, the PDO was „frozen.”
