ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes four years of experiences in adapting social security system to economic and political changes taking place in Poland and to characterize the main challenges and dilemmas facing social security in a period of transition. It highlights the main features of “communist” social security system. The chapter explores the main challenges facing social protection arrangements and illustrates reform needs using unemployment compensation and pensions as examples. It describes the prospects for social security development for the coming years. Poland had fairly developed social security system prior to the postwar imposition of socialist central planing. Social laws that were into effect before the Second World War bore significant resemblance to the Bismarck’s social insurance schemes. In postwar Poland social welfare was devoted almost exclusively to help individuals unable to lead an independent life, mainly elderly and disabled people. The responsibility for social welfare is shared between state and local authorities.
