ZUS proposes to improve solvency by auctioning arrears to debt collectors
Finance Minister Jaroslaw Bauc is proposing a bill that would make it
possible for the Social Insurance Company (ZUS) arrears to be sold as debt
to private debt collection companies. Debt collectors would be sought
through a tender. The proposal, if it becomes law, would help ZUS maintain
the solvency it needs if it is to pay benefits such as health and social
insurance on time. According to ZUS president Leslaw Gajek, about zl. 2.5
billion would be raised from the tender. Work on the proposal however, has
been delayed by ongoing inter-ministerial consultations. Opponents of the
draft are pessimistic about the chances of collecting debts from ZUS'
worst debtors, the state-owned mines and the railways. Proponents on the
other hand, have welcomed the draft saying such methods have been
successfully implemented in Italy and Greece. (Prawo i Gospodarka, Aug.
12-13, page 1, 9)
