Poland – Forced labour
2017-2020 NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
Pillar I: The state’s duty to protect human rights
1. Regulations relating to business and human rights under Polish law
Prohibition of forced or compulsory labour [page 9]
“Referring to the prohibition of this type of work, it should be noted that, although the Labour Code does not contain a definition of forced labour, according to Article 65(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, everyone has the freedom to choose and to pursue their own occupation and to choose their place of work (with exceptions specified by law). On the other hand, one of the basic principles of labour law is the right to choose work freely, resulting from the provision of Article 10 LC, which also guarantees minimum remuneration and the assistance of the public authorities in taking up employment, as part of state policies to combat unemployment. This provision does not, however, provide the grounds to demand employment. In addition to the right to choose work freely, as specified in Article 10 § 1 LC, there is the principle of discretion when establishing an employment relationship, set out in Article 11 LC.”
Pillar II: The corporate responsibility to respect human rights
5. Corporate social responsibility in companies with State Treasury shareholding [page 32]
“as Poland ratified the Protocol of 2014 to Forced Labour Convention No 29 of 1930, it is necessary to initiate measures that will require employers in the public and private sectors to provide information under their reporting procedures on implemented procedures, processes, and standards for counteracting forced labour.”
10. Planned and ongoing activities [page 37]
“working to establish cooperation between state institutions and business-sector entities to counteract and reduce the phenomenon of forced labour, as one of the forms of trafficking in human being.”
Pillar III: Access to remedies
1. Current situation regarding access to legal remedies
Protection under criminal law [page 42]
“In this context, it is worth mentioning the amendment to the Penal Code that introduced a definition of slavery (Article 115 § 23 PC) and a definition of trafficking in human beings (Article 115 § 22 PC) modelled on the standards set by the Palermo Protocol and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Penalisation was provided not only for the act itself, but also for the preparatory stage for its execution (Article 189a PC). In connection with Council Decision (EU) 2015/2071 and Poland’s ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to Convention No 29 on Forced Labour of 1930, it is advisable to continue the work on verifying whether the provisions related to forced labour under Article 115 § 22 PC are sufficient to penalise the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings for forced labour.”
“In connection with Council Decision (EU) 2015/2071 and Poland’s ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to Convention No 29 on Forced Labour of 1930, it is advisable to continue the work on verifying whether the provisions related to forced labour under Article 115 § 22 PC are sufficient to penalise the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings for forced labour”
3. National Labour Inspectorate (PIP): an institution that oversees business and human rights
Tasks of the National Labour Inspectorate in the field of combatign human trafficking, and, in particular, forced labour [page 47]
“National Labour Inspectorate services play an extremely important role in combating trafficking in human beings, including forced labour. The National Labour Inspectorate is included in a group of institutions and organisations carrying out tasks to counteract this phenomenon, as part of their competencies. At the central level, a representative of the Chief Labour Inspectorate participates in meetings of the interdepartmental Team for Combating and Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings and in proceedings of the Teams’ Working Group. The National Labour Inspectorate carries out tasks under the National Plan and reports annually on their implementation to the Ministry of Interior and Administration. In addition, selected labour inspectors from district labour inspectorates participate in the work of Voivodship Teams for Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings.
Within the framework of the supervisory and inspection tasks performed, in particular when inspecting the legality of employment and the assignation and performance of work by foreign nationals, labour inspectors check where there are indications of forced labour at an inspected establishment, which is characterised by taking control over an employee and resulting in a violation of human rights. In order to evaluate and identify potential victims of trafficking, indicators are used, i.e., the circumstances of taking up and performing work, which may indicate that the employee is a victim of this type of crime (developed by both the ILO and the Ministry of Interior and Administration). The signing of an agreement between the Border Guard Chief Commander and the Chief Labour Inspector in 2008 and then in 2015 served as an instrument to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors to respond to the illegal employment of foreign nationals and to the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings. The agreement serves as the basis for cooperation in undertaking joint inspections by Border Guard officers and labour inspectors, and to exchange information on infringements of the law concerning foreign nationals, including cases of their illegal employment. Effectively combating crimes of trafficking in human beings for forced labour is also possible thanks to mechanisms for cooperation and the exchange of information between National Labour Inspectorate units and prosecutors’ offices, at both the central and local levels, also on the basis on an agreement concluded in 2014. Training courses are conducted at the National Labour Inspectorate Training Centre in Wroclaw to help improve the qualifications of the inspectorial staff involved in the activities related to the issues in question.
The procedure for handling complaints by PIP authorities is an important tool in the prevention of trafficking in human beings for forced labour and violations of labour rights against foreign nationals. Complaints that suggest the need for immediate action are examined first. Respecting the dignity and other personal interests of employees is a fundamental duty of employers. This also includes the prohibition of unequal treatment and discrimination at work. The activities of the National Labour Inspectorate to prevent and combat unequal treatment and discrimination in labour relations include the implementation of activities in the sphere of oversight and inspection, as well as in prevention and information. (…)”
Implementation of the National Action Plan
1. Education [page 54]
“It is appropriate to take preventive measures against forced labour, including education and information initiatives for employers, and to support both the public and private sectors in preventing and responding to the threat of forced labour.”
Apendix 1: International non-binding mechanisms and international legal framework in force in Poland in relation to business and human rights
Conventions for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms [page 58]
“Poland has also ratified the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Journal of Laws of 1993, No 61, Item 284, as amended). Article 34 of the Convention provides for the right to file an individual complaint, which makes it possible to initiate proceedings against the defendant state before the Court in order to protect the rights and freedoms of the Convention: (…) Article 4: Prohibition of slavery and forced labour (…).”
2021-2024 NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
| 2. Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy
Responsible business – promoting due diligence standards The effectiveness of activities carried out so far in the form of cooperation within the Advisory Board for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility encourages further development of the initiative and dialogue with representatives of various institutions and sectors. In this sense, the Advisory Board for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility establish annual action plans. The plans include, among others, the following activities: · promotion of the handbook entitled: “Forced labour. A Guidebook: how to recognise and combat it” consisting in a wide-ranging e-mailing of the handbook, mailing of the paper version and organisation of webinars on the tools presented in the handbook. Information on the tools developed in the handbook will also be provided during meetings and trainings addressed to entrepreneurs organised by the Advisory Board for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility, … · developing tools for entrepreneurs as set out in the handbook on tools for minimising forced labour in enterprises in an electronic version, downloadable from the website of the Working Group for Relations with Individuals Performing Work, – page 10 · cooperation with other multilateral cooperation platforms for counteracting undesirable phenomena related to the failure to respect human rights in business activity of enterprises, e.g. with the Unit for Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings in the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. – page 10 … 6. Ministry of Justice Proposal of a definition of forced labour The Ministry of Justice has received the material developed within the framework of the Working Group for Relations with Individuals Performing Work of the Advisory Board for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility – an auxiliary body of the Minister of Investment and Development, containing a proposal for the definition of forced labour. The Ministry of Justice will examine the possibility of working on the criminalisation of forced labour as a prohibited act positioned between the violation of labour rights and trafficking in human beings. – page 25
7. Ministry of the Interior and Administration Combating the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings for forced labour 1. Building awareness of the threat of exploitation and forced labour, e.g. through poster campaign, information meetings. 2. Developing guidelines for labour inspectors on the methodology of conducting control activities in cases where there is a suspicion of trafficking in human beings, in particular forced labour, and implementing them. – page 26 11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular activities 1. Trainings for persons about to hold consular posts The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and with the participation of representatives of the NGO La Strada will organise cyclical training for candidates for consular posts. The aim of the training is to familiarise future consular staff with the subject of trafficking in human beings, to provide information on emerging forms of trafficking in human beings, to indicate how an alleged victim of such activities can be identified and how and to what extent a consul can provide assistance. 2. Preventive actions and cooperation with other entities Consular offices will continue to be active in providing information on the risks faced by persons with no command of foreign languages as well as the laws and regulations of the country of residence, inter alia by organising meetings and seminars on this subject. Moreover, consuls shall take part in meetings devoted to the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings organised by the authorities of the countries of accreditation and organisations operating there. These issues are raised within the framework of local consular cooperation with representations of other EU Member States. The missions also maintain ongoing contact with labour inspectorates, public order services, NGOs and foundations dealing with this issue. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participate in meetings of the Unit for Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings and maintain close contact with NGOs supporting victims of trafficking in human beings, e.g. with the ITAKA Foundation. In cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs placed on the e-consulate website (https://e-konsulat.gov.pl/), in all nine language versions, a banner on counteracting trafficking in human beings, directing to the website of the National Consulting and Intervention Centre for the Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (in relevant languages – https://www.kcik.pl/). – page 30 12. Public Procurement Office The new Public Procurement Law (Journal of Laws of 2021, items 1129 and 1598) • Article 104 on the possibility of direct reference by the contracting body to a specific label in the description of the subject-matter of the contract, the description of the contract award criteria or in the contract performance requirements in order to highlight the specific characteristics of the contract (including social ones). Labels by means of which contracting bodies may specify requirements connected to compliance with social and economic rights, such as guaranteeing adequate remuneration for work, protecting women’s rights and combating discrimination against them (equal pay, participation in decision-making), prohibition of forced labour and non-use of child labour, freedom of association, health and safety at work, contribution to the development of local communities. Said right of the contracting body is subject to the cumulative fulfilment of the conditions set out in Article 104 of the PPL, – page 34 Tasks of the National Labour Inspectorate in the field of combating trafficking in human beings, in particular, for forced labour National Labour Inspectorate services play an important role in combating trafficking in human beings, including trafficking for forced labour. As part of its competencies, the National Labour Inspectorate is included in a group of institutions and organisations carrying out tasks to counteract this phenomenon. At the central level, a representative of the Chief Labour Inspectorate participates in meetings of the Unit for Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings in the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and in the works of the Unit’s Working Groups. The National Labour Inspectorate carries out tasks under the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings (currently for 2020-2021) and reports annually on their implementation to the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. In addition, selected labour inspectors from regional labour inspectorates participate in the work of Voivodship Units for Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings. Within the framework of the supervisory and inspection tasks, in particular when inspecting the legality of employment and the assignation and performance of work by foreign nationals, labour inspectors verify whether there are indications of forced labour at an inspected establishment, a phenomenon which is characterised by taking control over an employee and results in a violation of human rights. In order to evaluate and identify potential victims of trafficking, especially for forced labour, a number of indicators are used (developed by both ILO and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration), such as the circumstances of taking up and performing work, which may indicate that the employee is a victim of this type of crime. The signing of an agreement between the Border Guard Chief Commander and the Chief Labour Inspector in 2008 and then in 2015 and 2018 served as an instrument to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors to respond to the illegal employment of foreign nationals and to the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings. The agreement offers a basis for cooperation primarily in undertaking joint inspections by Border Guard officers and labour inspectors, and for exchanging information on violations of the law concerning foreign nationals, including cases of their illegal employment. Effective combating of crimes of trafficking in human beings for forced labour is also possible thanks to mechanisms of cooperation and exchange of information between National Labour Inspectorate units and prosecutors’ offices, at both the central and local levels, also on the basis of an agreement concluded in 2014 and 2017. Training courses are conducted at the National Labour Inspectorate Training Centre in Wrocław to help improve the qualifications of the inspectorial staff involved in the activities related to the issues in question. The procedure for handling complaints by PIP authorities is an important tool in the prevention of trafficking in human beings for forced labour and violations of labour rights of foreign nationals. Complaints that suggest the need for immediate action are examined first. – page 37/38 Appendix 2 (information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) GOOD PRACTICE CATALOGUE FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS IN THE FIELD OF BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS2 Recommendations – cooperate with reliable partners whose reliability, including in the area of respect for human rights, has been checked using available instruments such as verification by specialised economic bodies. Particular attention should be paid to respect for human rights in the context of forced and bonded labour and child labour in the supply chain.4 To the extent possible, preference should be given to companies certified as responsible businesses (e.g. Fair Trade). The current policy on sanctions adopted by Poland should also be taken into account; – page 47 Point relating to consular activities: – counteract the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings for forced labour through the implementation of an appropriate information policy, the application of regulations and guidelines relevant to consular services in this regard and ongoing cooperation with services and NGOs dealing with this issue. – page 48 |