Opposition politician discusses social benefits for Belarusians in Poland

March 6, Pozirk. Pavieł Łatuška of the opposition transition cabinet suggested that Polish authorities set up a single and accessible information source on social security for Belarusians in Poland.

Sebastian Gajewski, the Polish deputy minister for family, labor and social policy, supported the idea, noting that the government already has a similar experience with Ukrainian refugees, the transition cabinet’s press office reported.

Every Belarusian national can seek assistance at the Polish Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), a state agency responsible for social insurance, Gajewski said.

Łatuška and Gajewski agreed that the transition cabinet will inform the Polish side of any problems regarding the social security for Belarusians in Poland.

 Belarusians may help prepare requests to the ministry by informing the cabinet and the National Anti-Crisis Management, headed by Łatuška, of their problems.

Belarusians are entitled to pensions in Poland based on the length of their employment in Poland and in Belarus, to be confirmed based on a bilateral agreement on social security, Gajewski said.

He assured Łatuška that Polish authorities may consider granting pensions without requesting information from the Belarusian state agencies for persons under international protection who fear returning to Belarus because of politically-motivated persecution.

The Polish government is reportedly preparing amendments to make Belarusians with humanitarian residence permits eligible for unemployment benefits.