OZPiP: Civic project still in play

Recall, on July 1, 2022, an amendment to the law on how to determine the lowest basic salary of some employees of medical entities was introduced. Nurses and midwives rightly expected the associated chaos, which could have been prevented. At the time, the Management Board of the All-Poland Union of Nurses and Midwives came up with a proposal for amendments aimed at introducing amendments to the law that were necessary from the point of view of the environment, which the Polish Senate adopted, but the Polish Parliament rejected.

There was a wave of protests across the country, including a nationwide one on May 23. At least four points were the goal of the changes advocated by the community, which were included in a citizen's draft on how to determine the lowest salary:

1. Raising labor rates for the 5th and 6th occupational groups, which will increase their earnings.
2. Linking remuneration to actual qualifications rather than required qualifications.
3. Guaranteeing the transfer of funds to cover the increase in the minimum wage set by law within the system of publicly funded health benefits.
4. The crediting of each nurse and midwife to a group with a higher coefficient as of the next month after documenting the qualifications they have obtained.

As the OZPiP informs, in accordance with Article 4(3) of the Law of June 24, 1999 on the Exercise of Legislative Initiative by Citizens, a citizen's bill in respect of which legislative proceedings have not been completed during the term of the Sejm in which it was brought, continues to be considered by the Sejm of the next term without the need to bring the bill again.

In this case, work on the bill in the new term is not stopped, but only starts from the beginning. Then the Speaker of the Sejm orders the bill to be reprinted and delivered to the deputies, and the first reading of this bill is held no later than within 6 months of the date of the first session of the Sejm of the new term. The Citizens' Legislative Initiative Committee is therefore not required to take any additional formal action in this connection.

The Civic Committee will once again conduct an information campaign and a series of meetings with parliamentarians. We will explain the need for change to new deputies and senators, and remind those who have retaken their seats of their declared support.

According to estimates, there are already nearly 15,000 degradation and discrimination cases against nurses and midwives in Poland. There are more and more positive verdicts in favor of those suing. According to trade unionists, this situation clearly indicates the urgent need to amend the flawed legislation.

Elaborated. on the basis of: OZPiP