The Social Insurance Institution for more than six months has not published a study prepared on behalf of the institution. The document, developed by experts from the Polish Economics Network, reveals serious pension risks resulting from minimum contributions paid by self-employed people. After media intervention and public opinion, the study was made public and its content sparked a heated debate in Poland.
Key findings of the report
Report entitled "Voluntary poverty. On the consequences of voluntary ZUS for self-employed people" was created by the analysis of data collected from 2.4 1000 companies. According to the document, 99.18% of self-employed in Poland pays minimum pension contributions. This approach leads to a threat mass pension poverty, especially among women. The study shows that the state will be forced to pay for minimum pensions for these people, which will importantly burden the state budget.
Experts inform that the current pension strategy is peculiarly unfavourable for self-employed people. Many of them, alternatively of paying contributions on a higher scale, invest their income in another assets specified as real estate, securities or works of art. In the end, however, these people will require state support, leading to redistribution from the general public to wealthier entrepreneurs.
Why was the study hidden?
Originally, the study was to be published in June 2024, but the fresh president of ZUS, Zbigniew Derdziuk, decided to suspend it. According to the agreement with the authors, the rights to publication belonged exclusively to ZUS. Despite many requests from experts to make the paper public, the institution consistently refused to do so, explaining the request for verification of applications.
According to Prof. Gertrude Uścińska, erstwhile president of ZUS, hiding the study was a mistake. In her conversation with the media, she pointed out that the paper should be available to the public due to the fact that it contains applicable information for the public. "Analises like this are essential to realize the challenges facing the social safety strategy in Poland" She stressed.
Reactions of public opinion and politicians
After the case was disclosed by Virtual Poland, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy addressed ZUS with a advice to print the document. As a result, the study was published on the ZUS website on January 24, 2025. The responses to the study were immediately and highly different. Adrian Zandberg, MP of the Together Party, criticized the government for concealing the study and called for a debate in the Sejm on its proposals.
Experts point out that the problem of voluntary self-employment is simply a substance which requires urgent legislative changes. The current system, although beneficial to entrepreneurs in the short term, generates long-term problems for society as a whole.
What next with the pension strategy in Poland?
In the light of the data disclosed, it appears essential to improvement the social safety system. 1 of the solutions under consideration is the introduction of a minimum pension premium threshold that reflects the real income of self-employed people. specified action could reduce the hazard of pension poorness in the future while expanding the impact of the system.
Prof. Uścińska recalls that the Social Insurance Institution had previously published reports which caused a wide public discussion. 1 example is the 2020 analysis on the effects of non-contribution contracts. "Similar developments aid the public realize the complexity of the insurance strategy and support debate on the essential changes" – she noted.
Conclusions and relevance of the report
The ZUS study disclosed is not only an crucial paper for the technological community, but besides a informing signal for Polish society. It shows that the current social safety strategy requires a profound improvement to prevent massive pension poorness in the future. The publication of the study besides proves that public institutions must act transparently and service social welfare.
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Hidden ZUS study revealed by WP. large threats to self-employed in Poland
