Universal health cover could lower Polish unemployment: deputy minister
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
20.11.2016 09:12
Unemployment in Poland may drop to under eight percent in 2017, or even less if the government introduces free, universal health cover, deputy Labour Minister Stanisław Szwed has said.
Photo: Flickr.com/Tax Credits
According to Szwed, some people register as unemployed just to get free health insurance, but the government's plan could reverse the trend.
Currently, all Poles who have a full-time contract deduct from their salaries compulsory monthly health cover contributions to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).
But contributions are not mandatory for freelancers or the self-employed, among others. Those registered as unemployed have the state cover the cost of their insurance.
The government plans to introduce a law allowing Poles not covered by compulsory health insurance to have access to free healthcare.
“The unemployment rate would be lower if we were to exclude those people who register [as unemployed] because of the health contributions, in order to have health insurance,” Szwed said.
Unemployment was at 8.2 percent in October.
Szwed said the rate may “slightly rise” as seasonal work dries up in November and December, but added: “This year will be good”.
Szwed said there were problem areas in Poland where jobless rates are in the double digits, but there are also Polish cities where unemployment is at two to three percent. (vb/pk)
Source: PAP