Reforms in mining envisage freezing wages and possibly 27,000 redundancies

On Friday the Economy Ministry presented a mining reform program for 2 003-06. Apart from privatizing the Bogdanka and Budryk coal mines, the reforms envisage the creation of three mining concerns, as well as their at least partial privatization. The program had two scenarios. The first version would cost zl. 5.6 billion, of which zl. 3.9 billion would come from the budget, while the second version needs zl. 6.1 billion, with zl. 4.4 billion being financed out of the budget. The second version would involve redundancies of 27,000. Salaries are expected to be frozen at their current level between 2003-2006. According to Economy Minister Jacek Piechota, wages would be increased in 2006, provided that the mines showed positive fi nancial results. (Gazeta Wyborcza, July 6-7, p. 24) A.Z.