The New Left in Poland is advocating a shift toward a shorter workweek and expanded holiday time. Speaking at a convention in Poznań, co-chair Włodzimierz Czarzasty announced a plan for a 35-hour work week, paired with a goal of introducing 35 days of paid leave. He noted that society has progressed beyond the old model of an eight-hour day and a Saturday off, a standard that was once championed as progress but is now considered only part of a broader picture that includes family and personal life.
Czarzasty spoke of his earlier years, recalling long shifts of sixteen hours a day. He admitted that those hours kept him from his children during their early years and said that time with family should be valued above all else. He encouraged listeners to dream, reminding them that life is more than labor.
“The world is moving forward, and work is not the only element of life,” he said. He outlined a plan to begin by reducing the weekly hours by two, then by five more in a phased approach, signaling that a 35-hour frame would be a baseline goal rather than a rigid deadline.
The coalition’s plans extend beyond hours. The party proposed a guaranteed right to disconnect from work in the evenings and the ability to claim 35 days of paid leave. Anna Maria Żukowska, a left-wing member, directed her message toward younger generations. She suggested reforms in which many students would learn how to register a company, but emphasized that most would become employees, a dynamic she argues the current Polish education system does not adequately prepare them for. Her emphasis was on improving labor-law enforcement and ensuring full-time employment rather than precarious positions such as junkyard work. She argued that employment brings greater protection and stability for workers.
Żukowska also pressed for 100 percent paid sick leave and a ban on unpaid internships, insisting that no one should engage in unpaid work. She called for the establishment of a minimum hourly rate for internships and stronger oversight by the National Labor Inspectorate, along with tougher penalties for violations of labor law.
Krzysztof Gawkowski, head of the left-wing club, criticized the current government for what he described as favoritism toward party loyalists and a lack of commitment to EU-backed growth. He accused the government of resisting new funding from the European Union and cited this as a reason for stagnant job creation. He described the current administration as prioritizing millionaire interests and labeled it an economic betrayal by key leaders. He characterized the government as an empire of nepotism and urged a shift toward policies that benefit broader society.
Budget and Governance
Adrian Zandberg, co-chairman of Razem, voiced a demand tied to co-governance after elections: a 20 percent budget increase with an indexation system applied twice a year. He stressed that the country should reorient policy toward workers and inflation-protected wages for those in production, the public sector, and offices. The convention in Poznań was titled “Good work for a good life,” and Zandberg joined other left-wing leaders to advocate for policies designed to strengthen workers’ rights and job security.
According to Zandberg, Poland has around 16 million people employed in various sectors. He argued that it is time for workers’ concerns to become central to political discourse and policy. He urged defenses against any erosion of workers’ rights and suggested that the left would be a consistent advocate for labor protections. He also criticized opponents who he argued pursue cheaper labor costs at the expense of workers’ well-being. The left pledged to make it easier for workers to organize unions and demand higher wages.
Another focal point was holding entrepreneurs accountable. Zandberg condemned practices where some employers delay or withhold salaries, describing these behaviors as exploitative. He proposed a simple rule: a penalty of 0.5 percent of the due salary for each day of arrears. He argued that public sector workers, such as teachers, should receive fair compensation and opposes measures that undermine timely pay. The party restated its iron condition for co-governance: a 20 percent budget increase and a twice-yearly indexation for fair pay across the system.
Katarzyna Kretkowska highlighted education spending during the PiS government, noting it had dipped below two percent of GDP. She pledged to raise education budgets by at least one percentage point, reaching three percent. Tadeusz Tomaszewski stressed the heavy workload borne by nurses and midwives, who face reduced life expectancy due to stress. He outlined a plan to support healthcare pay in the next term, ensuring professionals are in hospitals and clinics rather than in labor courts over wages.
The convention also touched on broader social issues, with Żukowska and others weighing in on the importance of fair treatment for workers and the need to focus policy on the real needs of laborers in Poland. The event underscored the left’s commitment to strengthening workers’ rights, broadening social protections, and ensuring that economic policy serves the everyday realities of Polish citizens.
Source notes: The dialogue reflected ongoing debates about labor law, job security, and the balance between work and life within Poland’s political landscape. The event featured key figures from the New Left and allied groups, presenting a shared vision for reforms in employment, education, and social policy.