On July 1, the first group of 1,123 employees of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) began their mining leave under a new program launched after a subsidy agreement between the company and the Ministry of Energy. The program is part of a broader restructuring plan for Poland’s hard coal mining sector scheduled for 2026–2031.
The agreement, signed on June 26, marks the start of the next stage of social protection measures for JSW workers. It follows amendments to the law on the functioning of hard coal mining, which paved the way for state-funded departures. Throughout 2026, JSW expects 3,092 employees to take advantage of mining leaves.
Mining leaves are available to workers who have no more than five years left until they reach retirement age. For employees of coal preparation plants, the leave period can last up to four years. Participants are exempt from work duties and receive 80% of their regular salary, calculated on the same basis as annual leave.
Scope of the program
The overall social package, including a one-time cash severance scheme launched in May, covers a total of 4,248 JSW employees. The estimated cost of implementing the state-funded program in 2026 amounts to approximately PLN 500 million. The package is intended to ease the transition for workers affected by the gradual reduction of coal mining capacity in the region.
JSW is the only producer of hard coking coal in the European Union and a leading supplier of coke used in steelmaking. The company’s core business revolves around the extraction and sale of coking coal, as well as the production and sale of coke and coal derivatives. The current restructuring is part of Poland’s long-term energy transformation strategy.
Financial and social context
The departure scheme is funded from the state budget and administered directly by JSW. Workers on mining leave retain their employment status and continue to receive social benefits, while the company gradually reduces its workforce without resorting to mass layoffs. The program has been negotiated with trade unions and is seen as a compromise between the need to decarbonize and the protection of workers’ livelihoods.
In the coming years, further tranches of departures are expected, aligning with the government’s goal to reduce coal output and shift toward low-emission energy sources. JSW’s unique position as a coking coal supplier means its transition is being watched closely by the European steel industry.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. JSW / Dawid Lach
