From welfare to 'workfare'

Poland faces a serious crisis of social policy, say experts from the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE). Starting with the ailing pensions system, through inefficient education, to the burning issue of unemployment, CASE highlights a raft of current social problems and calls for an open discussion in its recent publication, The New Dilemmas of Social Policy.

According to Professor Stanisława Golinowska, social policy is mainly used to mitigate the results of the intense economic changes and as a tool in the struggle for power. "Political parties treat social problems in an instrumental manner and do not have a content-related approach to the problems," Golinowska said. The professor claims that forming the social order on the basis of   arguments from particular political, trade or producers' groups leads to "destructive chaos." Dr Michał Boni stresses that single actions such as the 'becikowe', or baby bonus, are just political ploys, which will do nothing to solve institutional problems.

 

Labor pains

Despite the slight decrease in Poland's unemployment rate in recent months, CASE stresses that unemployment, currently the highest in the EU, is the most critical social issue at the moment. As a result Poland is suffering from youth emigration, a lack of opportunities for older people, and insufficient investment in human capital, meaning that not enough money is going towards education and health. Such a combination of problems limits economic growth, which in turn limits  the basis for potential solutions. Poland is therefore stuck in a vicious circle.

"The basic social and economic problem in Poland is the poor ability to create new and effective jobs," claims the CASE report. Thus there is a need for an active and complex social policy, that would be connected with education, social aid, the pensions system and migration policy. "As a consequence, we should change from a welfare state to a 'workfare' state," says Golinowska.