Poland – Extractives sector
2017-2020 NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
Pillar I: The state’s duty to protect human rights
1. Regulations relating to business and human rights
Occupational safety and health [page 14]
“The provision of safe and hygienic working conditions to employees is also ensured by the provisions of other laws, including the Construction Law, Atomic Law, and Geological and Mining Law.”
Pillar III: Access to remedies
3. National Labour Inspectorate (PIP): an institution that oversees business and human rights
Supervisory and inspection activities [page 47]
“The National Labour Inspectorate actively supports employers’ involvement in issues concerning safety and working conditions, as well as employee participation, both in its oversight and inspection capacity and in its preventive and promotional activities. These include seminars, conferences, and training meetings with employers involved in permanent workplace safety improvement programmes (enhanced oversight in industrial establishments, permanent inspections in construction, rail infrastructure, forestry, and mining sectors).”
2021-2024 NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
| 5. Ministry of Finance
Implementation of the Good Practice Catalogue on due diligence for European Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas National Revenue Administration. The provisions of the above-mentioned Regulation are aimed at ensuring that minerals and metals from the so-called ‘3TG’ group (Tin, Tantalum, Tungsten, Gold) introduced into the EU will not finance conflicts or result in human rights violations. These minerals are among the most valuable and their mining industry makes a significant contribution to global economic development (industries such as electronics, aerospace, automotive, and jewellery). Therefore, efforts have been taken to encourage responsible sourcing of minerals, which should in principle help prevent criminal groups from gaining income relating to said minerals and hinder the pursuit of their activities, as well as help to secure world peace. EU ‘3TG’ importers will be required to ensure that all the minerals and metals they import (as defined in Annex I to the above-mentioned Regulation) are sourced responsibly and from non-conflict areas. To this end, good practices are being introduced. They comprise in particular: • Maintaining a dedicated tab on the website of the Ministry of Finance providing information on responsible sourcing of ‘3TG’ minerals: https://www.gov.pl/web/kas/konfliktowe-mineraly • Various forms of meetings with selected importers and national industry organisations on ‘3TG’ minerals to build awareness related to the implementation of the provisions of the aforesaid Regulation, as well as OECD and UN guidelines. • Undertaking cooperation with the Entrepreneurship Support Department of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development as well as the CSR and Cooperation with NGOs Unit in the Minister’s Office in the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy in order to reach a wide range of entrepreneurs who are subject to the obligations under aforesaid Regulation. Due to this cooperation, an even greater number of entrepreneurs receive information/training materials (e-learning), in the area of ‘conflict’ minerals. • A newsletter sent to importers of ‘3TG’ minerals in Poland and sending important information to importers’ e-mail addresses, e.g. information on changes in regulations, instructions, explanations. • Operating a contact line for importers of ‘3TG’ minerals. Contact details are available on the dedicated website of the Ministry of Finance (link above). The practices identified above allow businesses to learn what benefits they gain by introducing due diligence into their supply chains, help companies introduce due diligence into their metals and minerals supply chains, as well as understand, assess and mitigate risks pertaining to responsible sourcing. – page 24 13. National Labour Inspectorate Supervisory and inspection activities The National Labour Inspectorate actively supports employers’ involvement in issues concerning safety and working conditions, as well as employee participation, both in its oversight and inspection capacity and in its preventive and promotional activities. These include seminars, conferences, and training meetings with employers involved in permanent workplace safety improvement programmes (enhanced oversight in industrial establishments, regular inspections in construction, rail infrastructure, forestry, and mining sectors). – page 37 |