Heft36 1 - SFB 580 - Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Heft36 1 - SFB 580 - Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Heft36 1 - SFB 580 - Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
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CATHERINE SPIESER<br />
general conditions of eligibility and length<br />
of unemployment benefit. First, a 12-month<br />
limit was introduced, with the possibility of<br />
extending the benefit to 18 months in total<br />
for people with a long employment history.<br />
The level of the benefit was linked to the<br />
local unemployment situation. Both the lower<br />
and upper limit of the benefit amount were<br />
lowered drastically: it could be as low as 33%<br />
of the average wage but not higher than the<br />
average wage. Restrictions on the benefit for<br />
unemployed graduates were also introduced<br />
in parallel. The relationship between the<br />
level of the benefit and one’s wage in the last<br />
job was completely eliminated in 1992: the<br />
unemployment benefit became a flat 36% of<br />
the average wage in the national economy. As<br />
a result, it was perceived as a measure of social<br />
assistance, rather than an entitlement deriving<br />
from one’s contributions paid to a social<br />
insurance fund. In 1996, the mode of calculation<br />
of the benefit level was reformed so that it<br />
would allow for adjustment independently of<br />
a set level of the average wage, which made<br />
it possible for further lowering of the benefit<br />
to wage ratio (Gardawski 2002c). In 2004 the<br />
rules were amended again. Although the Polish<br />
system is formally an unemployment insurance<br />
with obligatory contributions calculated as<br />
a percentage of salary, the benefit has, over<br />
the years, become a flat amount that varies<br />
only slightly according to work experience. 9<br />
Generally speaking, the unemployment<br />
benefit is granted for six months, but this can<br />
be extended in districts (powiats) marked by<br />
a level of unemployment higher for people<br />
who have a long working career behind them.<br />
In 2004, the Act on employment promotion and<br />
labour market institutions also introduced tighter<br />
conditions of eligibility for the unemployment<br />
status. To qualify, one needed to be a Polish<br />
or EU citizen between 18 and 60 (women)<br />
or 65 (men) years of age, not employed, not<br />
involved in training nor in any kind of paid<br />
work, not entitled to an old-age or invalidity<br />
pension, not owning more than two hectares<br />
of land, but willing and available to start full<br />
time work immediately, and registered with<br />
the local employment office.<br />
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