Work safety: Poland asks EU for transition period, but is it really needed?
Poland has asked the European Union (EU) for a transition period before
Polish companies have to adapt to European regulation on safety of
machinery, although complying with these regulations would cost Polish
companies just zl. 116.84 on average. At least such are the calculations of
the Central Institute for Work Safety (CIOP). Labor Ministry officials admit
that perhaps Polish companies could manage without transition periods.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry, which has motioned for the transition
periods, has major doubts about the CIOP data. The Independent Center for
Economic Research (NOBE) quotes higher costs. What is more, the costs will
not be spread evenly among companies, so a few thousand companies will have
to spend as much as zl. 50,000 on compliance, claims the Ministry. (Gazeta
Wyborcza, page 27) T.J.
