On July 1, 2026, the first group of 1,123 employees of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) began their mining leave, marking the start of a state-funded support program aimed at reducing employment in the hard coal sector. The program is part of a broader transformation plan for the Polish mining industry, running from 2026 to 2031.
The departures follow a subsidy agreement signed on June 26 between JSW and the Ministry of Energy. Under the amended law on the functioning of hard coal mining, the company plans to send a total of 3,092 workers on mining leave in 2026 alone. The leave is available to employees who are within five years of reaching retirement age.
During the leave period, workers are exempt from performing work and receive 80% of their salary, calculated according to the rules applicable to annual leave. For employees in mechanical coal processing plants, the leave period may last up to four years.
Program details and scope
The overall support scheme includes one-time severance payments launched in May, as well as mining and processing leaves, and is expected to cover 4,248 JSW employees. The program is part of a government effort to manage the social impact of the gradual reduction of coal mining capacity in Poland.
“This launch is a milestone in the socially responsible transformation of the sector,” said a company spokesperson. JSW is the only producer of hard coking coal in the European Union and a leading manufacturer of coke used in steelmaking, making its workforce transition particularly significant for the region.
Financial framework and future
The estimated cost of this year’s program is approximately PLN 500 million, fully financed from the state budget. The payments will be made directly to participants during their leave, which can last up to five years for underground miners and four years for processing plant employees.
JSW’s core business remains production and sale of coking coal, coke, and coal-based chemicals. The company continues to operate its mines and processing facilities, with the mining leave program expected to help align employment levels with declining demand for coal in Europe.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. JSW / Dawid Lach
