The Labor Ministry says it has enough money on hand to fund 100,000 employees' wages SHUTTERSTOCK

Poland's Labor Ministry plans to subsidize employee salaries as a means of fighting increasing unemployment. The idea is part of a draft law on preserving employment, which the ministry hopes will help 100,000 people keep their jobs. Labor Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told Gazeta Wyborcza that the state will help companies when their turnover falls by 15 percent. A sum of half the minimal monthly wage (zł.794) will be paid out per employee, while the company itself is expected to pay the remainder.

“It's better for us to pay part of the employee's salary, than to pay them unemployment benefits. People will keep their jobs that way,” said Mr Kosiniak-Kamysz. The ministry has funds to subsidize 100,000 employees' wages, which would cost zł.400-500 million.

In December, unemployment in Poland rose to 13.4 percent and in January it's expected to exceed 14 percent

Poland A.M.