Poland in talks with France on ‘posted workers’: FM

The French and Polish labour ministers are set to hold consultations on the matter, he added.

He made the comment when asked by reporters if Poland would be trying to block changes to a European Union directive on posted workers that have been urged by politicians including French President Emmanuel Macron.

“As diplomats, we are obliged to seek a compromise,” Waszczykowski said. “We have undertaken talks with the French side and today we obtained an invitation from the French labour minister for [Polish Labour and Social Policy] Minister Elżbieta Rafalska to start consultations with Poland."

According to Waszczykowski, other countries of the regional Visegrad Group shared Poland’s position on posted workers.

"We know that the Slovaks and Czechs also met with … President Macron ... and adopted a similar position: that it's necessary to seek a compromise," he said.

"As the Visegrad Group we are eager to look for a positive solution, and only then will we be thinking of any way of blocking" the plan, Waszczykowski added.

Last week, in an interview with French weekly Le Point, Macron criticised the Polish government’s opposition to his push for rules under which companies would be required to pay "posted" and local workers the same wages.

Poland has said this would hit its transport industry, making its truck drivers lose their edge in western European markets.

"I unequivocally condemn this approach and, more broadly, the very worrying policy of the Polish government, which undermines European solidarity and even the rule of law,” Macron said in the interview.

Macron last week held a series of talks with the leaders of Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria about new rules on posted workers. The political offensive by Macron added to diplomatic tensions between Warsaw and Paris. (gs/pk)

Source: PAP