Labor Code amendments set to improve competitiveness of private sector

President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed on Wednesday an amendment to the Lab or Code, which was recently adopted by Parliament, and earlier agreed by the National Trade Unions' Alliance (OPZZ) and the Polish Private Employers' Con federation (PKPP). The new regulations are more liberal and are aimed at inc reasing the competitiveness of Polish enterprise though making working time more elastic and limiting costs and bureaucracy in companies. Under the amen ded regulations, during sick leave of up to six days, the first day of leave is unpaid and overtime will be paid at lower rates. "This is a historic mome nt. For the first time the Labor Code has been amended upon agreement with e mployers," said Henryka Bochniarz, head of the PKPP. The Solidarity trade un ion, which did not take part in talks with OPZZ and employers, from the begi nning protested any changes. Solidarity announced it would take the amendmen t to the Constitution Tribunal on a number of points, such as a lack of prot ection against dismissals for pregnant women, or possibilities to increase o vertime hours in collective labor agreements. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3) M.T.