Labor unions claim government's economic strategy ignores workers' rights

The All-Poland Trade Unions' Alliance (OPZZ) yesterday criticized the government for its economic strategy, its too liberal social policy and its plans to change the labor code. "No link has been proved between the amendment to the labor code and an improvement on the labor market," commented OPZZ vice chairman Wojciech Kaczmarek. "We support the government in its attempts to make life easier for employers. But not necessarily at the expense of the employees," he went on. In a statement, the OPZZ said that the government's current economic strategy is failing to increase the number of jobs, and improvements in the economic situation are being made at the expense of society, seen specifically in a diminishing of workers' rights. The OPZZ also expressed its opposition to the reduction of the minimum wage for graduates. Deputy Labor Minister Andrzej Zdebski commented, "It's a shame, because there are too few young people entering the job market." (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) P.W.