This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Published on July 5, 2019, Polish lawmakers have approved a measure to exempt most workers under 26 from income taxes, aiming to stem the flow of young people to other EU nations in search of better-paying jobs.
The ruling conservatives introduced the measure, which was approved by the lower house of parliament in a vote late Thursday by an overwhelming majority.
The bill would exonerate workers under 26 from Poland's 18% personal income tax for those whose gross earnings don't surpass 85,500 zlotys (approximately $22,500) per year.
That level is higher than Poland's average income, estimated to be around 60,000 zlotys per year before tax.
Some two million people could benefit from the measure, according to supporters of the legislation, which should enter into force from August 1.
Poland has long been hemorrhaging skilled workers to other EU states where they can find better-paying jobs, posing both a long-term demographic risk and short-term problem finding enough laborers to continue the country's streak of economic growth since the fall of communism in 1989.
