Selected Aspects of Social Policy in Poland in the Process of Integration with the European Union

Abstract

The paper attempts to analyse both costs and benefits of Poland's accession to the European Union in the area of social policy and their impact on the size of labour force migration. The analysis is focussed on issues of economic and social effects of implementation of EU regulations in Polish law in the field of policy of equal rights for men and women, employment policy, work health and safety and a social dialogue. In addition, impact of adjustments in the area of social policy on the size of labourforce migration from Poland to EU member countries was identified. Comparative analyses of various indicators characteristic for different areas of social policy were carried out on the basis of available statistical data for Poland and selected European Union countries. The findings point to the problem of uneven distribution of costs and benefits over the time, where two scenarios are possible. The choice of particular scenario depends on preferences of the society. The estimates of costs and benefits connected with adjustments of Polish labour legislation and social security to EU requirements assume an average period of 5 to 7 years from the moment of becoming EU member. The need to treat the implementation and realisation of EU social policy standards as a continuous process based on a social dialogue with economic and social partners is underlined.