PKP doesn't pay its insurance premiums, taxpayers do

Polish State Railways (PKP), Poland's largest company employing 200,000 workers, is not paying even a third of its compulsory insurance premiums. Last year, the firm's debt reached zl. 1.2 billion and cost each taxpayer zl. 50. Under Polish law it is the duty of employees to make sure the employer pays premiums. "Still, the employee should not be held responsible for their employer's mistakes," said Agnieszka Chlon from Gdansk Institute for Market Economics (IBnGR). She added that in case the premiums are not paid Social Insurance Company (ZUS) will prosecute the employer. This, however, may prove ineffective, as it is almost impossible to retrieve money from a state-run company which cannot declare receivership. In this case the money will be paid by the state, that is, by all taxpayers. (Zycie, page 1) J.K.