Senate supports pension bonuses for anti-communist activists
Poland's Senate unanimously supported a government amendment on Tuesday that introduces extra pension payments for communist-era oppositionists, from which around 10,000 former activists could benefit. The law now goes to the president for signing.
Ninety senators supported the amendment to the law on anti-communist oppositionists and victims of political repression, with no votes against and no abstentions. In addition, the Senate proposed a legislative initiative on aid to communist-era oppositionists.
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy foresees that around 10,000 former oppositionists will benefit from the new law, who due to their activism for an independent Poland could not earn wages and pay pension contributions. During the preceding debate, senators unanimously maintained that such a law was an expression of thanks to former activists.
The law provides the right to an indemnity payment to people of confirmed opposition status, or those repressed for political reasons, whose pensions or disability allowances are lower than PLN 2,400 (EUR 546) gross a month.
The social policy ministry estimates the cost of the provision at about PLN 62 million (EUR 14.1 million) a year. The new law also grants former oppositionists a 50-percent discount on city transport and a 51-percent discount on inter-city travel, as well as health insurance.
The Senate passed the law without amendments in order for it to come into force by the end of August, the 40th anniversary of the emergence of the Solidarity trade union. (PAP)
