Courtesy of KPRM

“I am convinced that we will be able to protect the labor market in Poland. I realize that the present unemployment rate takes a toll on many families,” said on Thursday Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who believes that increase in unemployment will be slowed down in the second half of 2013.

During the Thursday press conference Prime Minister repeated a couple of promises he made during his expose in the Sejm (lower house) last autumn such as: a reform of the labor bureaus and introduction of flexible work hours.

PM Tusk also promised creation of 400,000 new jobs in the coming year, which he plans to accomplish with the help of zł.300 billion in EU funds for 2014-2020, which Poland is hoping to get. He didn't specify in which sectors this new openings will be created.

According to PM Tusk, 2013 will be a good year for families. In this context he mentioned year-long maternity leaves, which will come into life in H2, in-vitro funding, zł.50 million for the construction of day care centers for small children, as well as higher tax credit for families with three or more children.

He also added that the government plans to invest zł.10 billion for the modernization of the railway and zł.8 billion for buying of new equipment for the army.

Poland A.M.