Industrial conversion and streamlining are the two catchwords which, also in our company, do not lose their appeal and attractiveness as the time passes.

Recently, they have even gained new meaning. I think about the conversion and streamlining of employment with regard to the Labor Cost Reduction Package which was recently concluded with the representative trade unions. The previous package was in force till the end of 2008 and after that for the period of 18 months we did nor propose any type of encouragement concerning early-retirement. Currently, we are not forced to do so as in the last years we converted from a company employing almost 7,000 people into a modern enterprise with 5,300 employees. And it seems to be of great importance, the employment rate reduction was carried out without blanket layoffs, elimination of positions etc.

Yet we do remember that power units in some of our power plants are subject to derogation and will be gradually shut down. In other plants we are going to build new power units. In the end we will need less people to operate the new ones. Therefore, implementing the new package we are embracing the dreams about the early retirement of a part of our older workers on one hand and on the other this will give an opportunity to continue employment streamlining and conversion. I am talking about the streamlining as early-retirement will only be possible in case of shifting employees inside and between power plants. It is truly the optimum situation as it is beneficiary for the employees and the employer.

The package also guarantees the same regulations to be binding for almost one and a half year concerning the early-retirement and pre-retirement benefits – all this is the effect of the dialogue and cooperation with the trade unions.

Jan Kurp