Marlena Maląg, minister for labour, family and social policy, told reporters on Wednesday that the Polish government has so far disbursed nearly PLN 80 billion (EUR 18 billion, USD 20 billion) worth of support to companies under its Anti-Crisis Shield and Financial Shield measures.
She added that these funds "have reached businesses and helped maintain jobs."
"We can safely say that we have managed to save about 5 million jobs so far," Maląg said.
Maląg told public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency last month that protecting jobs was a top priority for Poland’s conservative government in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.
Poland reported its first coronavirus infection on March 4, while the country's first COVID-19 death was announced by authorities on March 12.
The Polish government later that month came up with a multibillion relief and stimulus package to mitigate the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poland’s president in April signed into law a measure to offer further support to the nation’s economy amid the coronavirus crisis.
Polish lawmakers at the end of April backed a plan to expand the massive package of measures aiming to protect jobs and businesses.
Poland's parliament in mid-May approved more support to the economy as part of the government's Anti-Crisis Shield.
Polish MPs this month approved a set of rules to offer debt relief to borrowers hit by the virus crisis.
Poland’s labour ministry last week estimated that unemployment in the country rose to 6 percent in May amid the coronavirus crisis, from 5.8 percent in April and 5.4 percent in March.
(gs)
Source: PAP