Polish municipal companies scrutinized over million‑zloty salaries

Public watchdogs and local media have highlighted extremely high earnings of managers in Poland’s municipal companies, prompting calls for tighter salary controls and greater transparency. In Poznań, the head of the water‑utility Aquanet, Paweł Chudziński, earned more than 1 million zł in 2025. In Tychy, Mariola Szulc, president of the city‑run Megrez hospital group and former local politician, reported earnings of over 908 thousand zł for 2024 before being dismissed.

The revelations have intensified debate over the publication of asset declarations for public‑sector employees. The Polish Cities Association has proposed restricting full disclosure of such statements in the public information bulletin, a move criticized by anti‑corruption activist Szymon Osowski of Watchdog Polska. Municipal councils in Poznań and Tychy are now reviewing executive compensation policies in response to public pressure.