The programme aims to deliver a massive injection of funds from state coffers in order to protect jobs, help the country’s entrepreneurs and maintain the liquidity of businesses hit by the coronavirus.
A total of 343 deputies voted to adopt the new package, while 73 were against and 19 abstained.
The vote came after a long debate in the Sejm, the lower house of Polish parliament, that lasted from Friday evening until early the hours of Saturday morning.
The debate took place with a limited number of deputies in the main chamber of parliament.
Other MPs attended remotely after lawmakers on Thursday approved changes to in-house regulations allowing them to use distance technology to limit face-to-face interaction.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said during the debate: "Everyone around the world must unite to fight the coronavirus, but not do so on the basis of the false choice of whether we're fighting for public health or for the economy.”
"We think that spread of coronavirus needs to be slowed to the maximum, but at the same time we are aware” that “great damage” is being inflicted on the economy, he added.
On Wednesday, Morawiecki added that his government’s "anti-crisis shield" was the largest such support package in Polish history and was worth at least 10 percent of the country’s GDP.
Under the plan, the government will dole out up to 40 percent of the average monthly salary to employees working for companies in financial trouble, state news agency PAP reported.
Meanwhile, the self-employed and small businesses employing up to nine people will have their social security (ZUS) contributions paid for by the government for three months, PAP added.
The planned stimulus package carries PLN 30 billion in funds for employee security programmes, PLN 73.2 billion for enterprise financing, PLN 7.5 billion for healthcare, PLN 70.3 billion to strengthen the financial system, and PLN 30 billion for public investment, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
(tf/pk)
Source: PAP
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