Employers organizations warn gov't of negative impact of shorter work week

Polish employers organizations appealed to Sejm deputies to reject the bill that would shorten the working week from 42 hours to 40. Business people maintain the unfavorable changes would render Polish firms less competitive by boosting labor costs and causing an economic slump in the country. "A 40 hour week will raise companies' operating costs by 7.5-10% and public firms by as much as 20%. Employers will be forced to cut staff and unemployment would jump by 5%. Wages will drop," said the head of the Private Employers Confederation Andrzej Wilk. '"We will witness a collapse of many companies," said Jeremi Mordasiewicz from the Business Center Club. "Our economy is under pressure from trade unions. Their policies may destroy small business," said Andrzej Stepniewski from the Private Employers Confederation. (Puls Biznesu, page 5)