Poles in general opposed to proposed amendments to the Labor Code

According to a Rzeczpospolita poll, Poles object to the proposed amendments to the Labor Code which would facilitate employment and lay-offs. A small majority (51%) said no to the idea of enabling employers to fire people on sick leave. They also objected to the exemption of enterprises facing bankruptcy from the duty to observe certain labor law provisions, as well as to privileges granted small companies allowing them to suspend payment of retirement pension allowances. In general, Poles support the unionist approach to protection of workers' rights. The majority of supporters of the flexible new labor law are people with a higher education, managers, company owners, private-sector employees and, in general, the better-off. Opponents are typically young people with a vocational or secondary education, unskilled workers, and employees paid from the state budget. (Rzeczpospolita, p.A1, A5) M