Demographic policy proposals by Rozwój Plus in Poland

The association Rozwój Plus, founded by former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, has proposed a demographic policy to address Poland’s declining birth rate and future pension system strain. The plan suggests replacing several existing family benefits—including the ‘800 plus’ allowance, ‘babciowe’, ‘kosiniakowe’, and the Active Parent programme—with a single ‘parental salary’ for one parent of a child aged 0–3.

Recent reports specify that this salary would be approximately 3,600 PLN net (or the current minimum wage of 4,806 PLN gross) per child. Unlike previous models, this payment would be taxed and subject to social security contributions to increase future pension entitlements, treating childcare similarly to formal employment. Additionally, the plan introduces a ‘family pension contribution’, redirecting one-quarter of a working child’s pension contributions to their parents to boost retirement savings.

Proponents, including MP Fryderyk Kapinos, argue these measures are vital as Poland’s population could decrease by 10 million by 2060, following GUS data showing a decrease in live births in 2025. The association estimates the parental salary would initially cost 40–42 billion PLN annually, dropping to 23–25 billion PLN once existing programs are eliminated.

However, the proposal has faced political opposition. Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the Konfederacja party, rejected the plan, arguing that previous social programs like ‘500 plus’ failed to improve fertility rates despite massive spending. Mentzen dismissed the proposal as an ineffective attempt to solve demographic issues through increased social expenditures, which he characterized as a waste of public funds.