Polish National Labor Inspectorate Holds Seminar on Rights, Duties of Foreign Workers in Poland

Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann V. Paez leads the community singing of Philippine National Anthem. (Warsaw PE photo)

WARSAW 07 November 2018 – Poland’s National Labor Inspectorate conducted a two-hour seminar on the rights and duties of foreign workers in Poland for overseas Filipino workers and members of the Filipino Community in Poland at the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw on 28 October 2018.

Serving as resource speakers were the Labor Inspectorate’s Legal Officers Izabela Czopik and Bartosz Kopec and Senior Specialist Atty. Pawel Zukowski.

The resource speakers discussed the provisions of the Polish labor law and the differences between a “civil” contract—or “trash” contract, as it is sometimes referred to in Poland—and an employment contract.

An employment contract extends to the worker or employee all the rights and benefits under the Polish labor law, and guarantees labor protection as provided for by this law.

Meanwhile, under a civil contract, unless such rights and benefits are categorically stated or written in the contract signed by the employer and the employee, those rights and benefits will not be extended to the employee. Nonetheless, the civil contract will still be considered lawful and legally-binding.

At least 70 OFWs attended the seminar that was also attended by members of the delegation of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI), an umbrella organization of labor recruitment agencies in the Philippines.

Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann V. Paez requested PASEI to ensure that the Filipinos they will recruit to work in Poland are covered by employment contracts and not by the so-called civil contracts. PASEI President Edwina Beech declared before the audience that her organization will do so.

Ambassador Paez also warned the Filipinos not to sign any contract written in Polish and, instead, for them to give a copy of it to the Embassy for translation into English and for the Embassy’s review.

Several OFWs with employment concerns availed themselves of the opportunity to raise questions with and seek advice from the officials of the National Labor Inspectorate.

A video to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the “Victory at Mactan” was also shown to the Filipino Community by Cultural Officer Imelda de Joya.

Another short video about Poland that encapsulates its past until its present was played, especially for the benefit of newly-arrived Filipinos.  END

(From left) Interpreter Beata Moskala, Legal Officers Izabela Czopik and Bartosz Kopec, and Senior Specialist Atty. Pawel Zukowski were the speakers and resource persons during the seminar. (Warsaw PE photo)

Members of the Filipino Community attend the seminar-forum. (Warsaw PE photo)

Members of the Filipino Community gave plaques of appreciation and gift bags to the resource speakers as tokens, (from left) Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann V. Paez, Ms. Beata Moskala, Filipina student Jessa Kristine Pis-an, Mr. Bartosz Kopec, Ms. Izabela Czopik, Mr. Zukowski, Mrs. Purificacion Articulo, and Ms. Yana. (Warsaw PE photo)

For more information, visit www.warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPoland/.