New regulations for Polish and other foreign transport companies for transit in Germany

The suspension of the German minimum wage regulation for Polish and other foreign transport companies for transit in Germany, are not the end of new regulations, informs the Polish transport associations and the government in Warsaw. According to the Minister of Labour Mr. Kosiniak Kamysz and his counterpart Mr. Andrea Nahles the new regulation has been described as the first step.

The submission of the German minimum wages for foreign transport companies is an intervention of a foreign state in the employment situation for Poland registered companies, according to the Polish president of the Polish Employers’ Association for the transportation industry. It is not consistent with EU law. Governments of the 13 EU countries have already inserted a complaint to the EU Commission, while they are proceeding to win more states. Mainly the newly entered EU countries have lodged a complaint, but also Spain and Ireland are included.

The foreign documentation requirements for foreign transport company are mainly an irritation. It must list names, a certificate of compliance with minimum wage payments, while the temporary work plans of drivers in Germany have to be provided by the transport company to the Federal Finance Office West, Cologne. A presentation of the addresses where the German employment contracts are, documentation for payment and the receipt of wages have to be accessed, which leads to high translation costs and additional employees required. New and abruptly introduced rules are not unusual in the transport sector.

Poland is one of the leading transportation nations in Europe with 259.7 billion ton-kilometres, thus achieved in all EU countries Poland accounted for 25% in international transport. According to the industry association, the cost would increase by about 20% for the Polish transport companies. The competitiveness would thus decrease, and thus, the market share.

With 30,000 companies, about 1 million employees and over 160,000 trucks the transport associations expect more commitment by the government in Warsaw. The transport sector has a share of 10% on the Polish GDP, and thus, should come first for the government, to compare the coal-mining has only 2% share of the polish GDP. The government should also provide counterclaims in their negotiation position as ‘a minimum of 8.50 for German industrial companies that produce in Poland’ by Władysław Frasyniuk (transporter, former member of Solidarność) in a statement of Gazeta Wyborcza.

Source: Wirtschafts-Markt Polen Ausgabe 217
Date: 02/2015