The court ruled in favor of steel-sector magnate Lakshmi Mittal and Arcelor Mittal Poland Courtesy of Arcelor Mittal

Steel giant Arcelor Mittal Poland has won a battle against the Chorzów branch of the Social Insurance Office (ZUS) concerning the so-called steel sector worker card, which enables employees of the sector to receive additional remuneration.

The Katowice local court ruled that the "annual salary paid on the basis of the steel sector worker card is not a basis for calculating social insurance premiums."

According to Chorzów ZUS spokesperson Anna Sobańska-Waćko, this means the payer "should submit corrections of settlement declarations and name reports of those periods for which premiums were paid."

Thus, the concern can either demand the return of overpaid money or recognize it as payment for future ZUS premiums, which could prove to be a very large sum since it covers a five-year period.

According to some estimates, the total figure could exceed zł.100 million, but the eventual amount will be calculated after the submission of corrected declarations. Other steel companies, mines and energy concerns are now analyzing whether they could also demand a return of overpaid premiums.

Source: Puls Biznesu (M.M.)