Poland’s largest coal mining company, Polska Grupa Górnicza (PGG), is preparing to cut 4,300 jobs in 2026 as part of a major restructuring. Thousands of miners have already signed up for voluntary departure programs offering severance payments of up to 170,000 PLN net.
PGG, which currently employs around 35,000 people, plans to reduce its workforce by 4,300 this year. A state-funded support package is central to the process. By the end of May, advisory points at the mines had provided about 7,500 consultations, more than half of them at the Ruda mine. Workers most often ask about one-off severance payments and paid mining or processing leave.
The so-called JOP (one-off cash benefit) has drawn the most attention. By mid-May, 780 applications had been approved and 630 workers had already taken the payment. At the same time, nearly 2,700 applications for mining leave were accepted, though a smaller number have actually started using it.
Voluntary departure programs attract thousands
Severance payments can reach 170,000 PLN net. This is the main incentive for workers considering leaving the company. The high number of applications shows that many miners are ready to leave the sector. PGG is also preparing to transfer employees between mines as production winds down at selected sites.
– They will simply replace those who leave under the support programs – said Marek Skuza, vice president for production.
Mine closures drive workforce reduction
The restructuring is linked to the phasing out of several mines. Production at the Wujek mine ended in 2021, and the Bielszowice section will stop on 30 June. Workers from Bielszowice will first move to the Halemba mine, and the rest will be reassigned to other PGG units.
The process is spread over several years. Skuza explained that employees from the closed sections will take the places of those who leave through the voluntary programs. This ensures continuity of production while gradually reducing the total workforce.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. Shutterstock/NOWAK LUKASZ
