Poor employment prospects cool demand for zl. 1.68 billion coal miners fund

fund Coal mining corporations have so far used only 30% of the zl. 1.68 billion subsidy for employment restructuring in the coal mining sector, with the rest of the money likely to be forfeited. According to deputy Economy Minister Andrzej Karbownik, the money cannot be used for any other purpose. The money has not been utilized because coal miners are no longer willing to take compensation in exchange for leaving the mines. Two years ago many were eager to take a lump-sum compensation of zl. 44,000 or retire early. According to forecasts, in 1998-2000, 47,400 miners were supposed to leave the sector voluntarily, but 55,700 did so. Now it is harder to find jobs in Silesia and miners are reluctant to leave. Experts say only 15,000 will do so this year, while 20,000 was forecasted. Coal mining corporations currently owe the Social Insurance Company (ZUS) zl. 7.11 billion and the government zl. 1.8 billion in unpaid value-added tax (VAT), according to State Agency for Restructuring Hard Coal Mining (PARGWK). (Puls Biznesu, page 3)