Government Gives In To Net Users

Censoring the Web

There will be no internet black list. After internet users voiced their displeasure and protested, the Prime minister decided against some of the provisions of the bill already approved by the government. Last Friday’s meeting between Donald Tusk, net users and non-governmental organisations was the first of its kind. Its focus was on the law that aims to create a register of forbidden websites and online services: a black list of sites which would no longer be accessible to users as providers would be required to block them. The register was to include gambling and paedophile web pages as well as those providing advice about fraud and other illegal practices, the entries would be made at the request of either the police or customs authorities.

The bill received government approval in January of this year. As soon as it was made public – without any prior discussions with either the general public or online providers – internet users immediately protested, comparing the government’s tactics to China’s stringent censorship practices. On the social networking site Facebook, nearly 7,000 members took part in the ironically-named “Censorship, to help us live better” campaign while 77,000 people signed the veto request sent to the President. Internet users rebelled, believing that the future law would severely restrict freedom of speech. What exactly is the meaning of Tusk’s declaration? The abbreviated version of the bill, without the most controversial provisions now, will be reviewed by the government again and later by the European Commission. Whether the black list proposal will be permanently deleted is not certain at the moment. Regardless of the final outcome, consultations with various social groups will precede the decision-making stage. After the meeting with Tusk, many of its participants commented that they saw it as a move in the right direction and were looking forward to future talks.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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A Guide to Vacations

Watching the Minutes

There are a number of ‘first minute’ (fm) deals on the market at the moment. Would making a booking so much in advance be wise? Fms start late in the year and decrease in number the closer we get to the vacation season. Beginning in March or April, regular catalogue rates start replacing fms. Generally fms are attractive to tourists as there is a wide range of offers to choose from, it is fairly simple to find an interesting deal both in terms of cost and location, regardless of one’s preferences. How about the cost of fms? According to travel advisors we should expect around a 10% discount; accepting anything lower would not be advisable. Fares, especially those of the discounted variety, always need to be examined in detail as packages that feature 30-40% discounts too often mysteriously ‘disappear’ when the customer finally decides to make a purchase.

What time of year should one consider finding the lowest-priced package? Avoiding the high season is always a good decision. The worst month to buy is May: first minute deals are rarely available while there are few ‘last minute’ deals (lms). Waiting until the last moment to take advantage of an lm offer is not always good as frequently the range of options is limited therefore lms generally take a back seat to fms. One must not overlook the fact that the quoted price is often a fraction of the cost. Airport fees, visas, entrance fees and single room requests always incur extra charges. Reading the fine print should be compulsory before we decide on a purchase as travel agencies tend to conceal certain facts that may discourage a potential buyer such as long distances to the beach or city centre, no attractions in the vicinity of the hotel, or “room type to be assigned upon arrival”. Opting for a low-cost deal is recommended more for those who vacation regularly and find it easier to cope with possible disappointments. Conversely people who take time off for holidays less frequently had better not get involved in risky ventures and should sign an agreement with a proven, reliable provider. One additional feature that holiday-makers may consider is a fixed price guarantee, one that protects against a price hike in the event of changes in exchange rates or increased transport costs.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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Nurse, Can I Have Some Cement Please?

Nurse! Nurse!

Cracked ceilings, mildew on walls, roofs with holes in them – according to the Supreme Chamber of Control (NIK), 70% of all hospital buildings in the country are in a terrible state, many constitute a risk to patients and hospital staff. “It is a local government issue,” says Ewa Kopacz, the Health Minister. Last year NIK conducted a thorough check of 48 out of nearly 700 public medical facilities in the country and concluded that the condition of the majority of buildings is unacceptable and in urgent need of repair. The main problem is the “old age” of buildings – 42 years on average. Some need to be completely renovated, some are actually historic buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Hospitals do not receive sufficient funds necessary to carry out these badly-needed repairs. Local governments, the owners of most medical facilities, are able to cover only 50 percent of the costs. Over the last four years, local authorities have spent PLN 4 billion on hospital modernisation while the central government has made no contributions. Local officials complain that it would be rather unreasonable to expect them to pay all the costs without the involvement of the government, especially when one considers the fact that each year greater funds are needed. The Ministry of Health has ordered hospitals to amend their infrastructure in such a way as to meet EU standards. The original deadline was set for 2012 but as the requirements were practically impossible to fulfil it was extended to 2015. Hospitals need at least PLN 14 billion to put the renovation projects into effect, an amount that will be very difficult to raise unless the government decides to finance the investment. If the deadline is not met the facilities may be closed down. The Ministry of Health has declared that it will not provide financial assistance as it has apparently ran out of funds. Consequently, hospitals will have to rely on local governments or EU funds. Experts say that the lack of funds will cause severe delays with some work expected to finish as late as 2022.
Metro

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Newzar Hits Half a Million

500,000 Hits & Still Going!

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Newzar has gone over the 500,000 hits barrier. No one would have ever imagined that we would hit this mark so soon. Our free news service has been going little over two years but already we have managed to gain a large legion of loyal followers. For this we would like to thank you all. If you like our service then let other people know: tell your friends and relatives, link us, blip us, twitter us, subscribe to us by email. Once again, many thanks for supporting us.
Raf Uzar

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Frost Now, Floods Next

Ice on the Vistula

This year’s unusually cold weather is bound to cause serious problems – the nation’s rivers are nearly all covered in ice. Similar conditions led to severe flooding twenty eight years ago when nearly 15,000 people had to be evacuated. How can Poland avoid another disaster this year? The country’s authorities have already taken steps to safeguard against the forces of nature. Three thousand sappers have been deployed and are waiting to be called upon in case of emergency. They have 140 pieces of equipment at their disposal to combat the weather. In spite of the fact that Polish rivers are covered by a 20-centimetre layer of ice, water coming out from under them is threatening to flood areas close to the river banks, especially those along the River Bug.

Inhabitants of those areas do not want to move yet and wish to remain in their homes until the situation turns critical. Fire-fighters and soldiers are standing by to assist in the evacuation. Experts say that under these circumstances breaking up the ice may result in even more trouble and is therefore not advisable at the moment. Ice breakers are available but have yet to be put into operation. The Weather Forecast Office has issued a warning saying that strong winds are likely to raise water levels on the western coast of the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Tusk has decided to call a special meeting of government officials to discuss the threat and to verify whether the country’s local governments are prepared for the potential emergency. In 1982, after extended periods of frost, ice thawed rapidly only to freeze once again when the temperatures dropped. The subsequent flood had disastrous consequences – 15,000 people and 12,000 animals had to be evacuated, 18,000 hectares of land wound up under water. Losses were estimated at over PLZ 4 billion. The likelihood of another flood of similar magnitude taking place this year is very low, nevertheless the country’s authorities must ensure that the nation is aware of and adequately prepared for the potential danger.
Metro

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More Jobs And Money

Premier Ideas

Prime minister Tusk has just revealed the government’s public finances reform plan. Its main objectives are as follows:
1) The country has to save – by 2012 the budget deficit must decrease from 7% to 3% of GNP. Public debt figures need to fall. A rule that will curb the growth of budget expenditure is to be devised and later put into force. A ‘common service unit’ needs to be created with the purpose of fulfilling orders for the public sector. Introduction of the expenditure rule ought to generate savings upwards of PLN 10 billion, the centralisation of orders – a further 5-6 billion. Lower public debt requires less funds for maintenance thus opening the door for a future reduction of taxes.

2) A reduction of retirement benefits – this will primarily concern  policemen, soldiers, fire-fighters, coast patrolmen etc. as well as some farmers. Those who will enter into service after January 1, 2012, will no longer be eligible for special retirement privileges but will be covered by the general, nationwide pension plan. The retirement schemes of today will expire in 2040. Owners of farms that exceed 15 hectares will be obliged to pay ZUS premiums as well as income tax, generating considerable savings for the national budget in the process.
3) Reduction of the ‘grey area’ is another priority, one that shall be addressed by making various amendments to the tax system, with doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs as primary targets. The government plans to make cash registers obligatory for doctors and lawyers and also take away some VAT-deduction possibilities related to company cars and gasoline.
4) Improving the education system is another objective. The government stresses the need to provide more educational opportunities for children from rural areas and impoverished families, improve the quality of teaching and introduce a motivational scheme for teachers, make the internet more accessible nationwide, provide support for the technology sector and also encourage and popularise vocational training and education.
5) By creating more employment possibilities for the young by means of simplifying rules and administration procedures, officials are aiming to encourage and promote innovative thinking and entrepreneurship.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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Six New Museums

Modern Art Museum - Eye Candy or Eyesore ?

Within the next few years, Warsaw will become a city of museums. The Warsaw Uprising Museum initiated a boom when it opened in 2004 in a former power station. The managers of museums that are yet to be built admit that they want to surpass what the Uprising Museum has achieved but at the same time be able to compete with Warsaw’s new shopping centres. These managers are preparing a wide range of attractions, not only modern multimedia exhibitions with touch-screen technology but also movie theatres, book stores, cafes and restaurants…

Kopernik Science Centre

1) Kopernik Science Centre – scheduled to open at the end of 2010, it will not resemble a traditional science museum. Visitors will be allowed to touch all of the exhibits. They will learn about DNA and the latest forensic techniques. The cost of the two-storey, 15,000-square-metre investment is estimated at PLN 365 million;

2) Polish Military Museum – construction will begin in 2011 and should be completed 3-4 years later. This will be the most expensive of all the new projects costing PLN 470-480 million;

Museum of the History of Polish Jews

3) Museum of the History of Polish Jews – is being built in Muranów, a symbolic site where the ghetto was located and also where the uprising began. The museum will consist of seven galleries showing the 1000-year-old history of Jews in Poland. Visitors will walk along a typical street in the Jewish quarter of Warsaw, will feel the atmosphere of a 17th century city with a wooden synagogue, see the wall surrounding the ghetto and feel the horror of the holocaust;

4) Fryderyk Chopin Museum – will open in March of 2010 to commemorate the 200th birthday of the world famous composer. Visitors will have four sightseeing routes to choose from ranging from one lasting four hours to a shortened version for the impatient. Estimated cost is PLN 81.5 million;

Museum of the History of Poland

5) Museum of the History of Poland – to be completed in 2013 at a cost of PLN 350 million. The building will cover a surface area of 20,000 square meters, half of which will be used to house an exhibition that uses the most modern audio and multimedia technologies aiming to enrich the experience of going back in time;

6) Modern Art Museum – its aim will be to show the achievements of contemporary artists from Central and Eastern Europe. The opening is currently set for 2014.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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Credit Cards Not For Everyone

Plastic Fantastic?

The income levels required to receive a credit card are on the rise, as are penalties for those who do not use cards often enough. For many Poles credit cards used to be the simplest method of borrowing money from a bank. Low-level (PLN 2,000-3,000) cards were readily available even to individuals with net monthly incomes as low as PLN 500. Times have changed, however. According to a study conducted by Open Finance, six financial institutions have recently made the decision to raise the income thresholds allowing one to be eligible for a credit card.

“Some banks no longer accept the income statements of new clients/employees; they now require one to have an employer’s stamp,” says an Open Finance representative. The new restrictions are a consequence of credit card debt which is increasing at an alarming rate. Most people faced with financial difficulties decide to use their credit card funds to the limit as a temporary solution but then refuse to pay off the money. The total value of unpaid credit card debt exceeded PLN 1.5 billion in September 2009. Banks nowadays need assurance that all the credit cards they issue will bring a profit. In order for that to happen clients must use their credit cards in shops regularly so that the bank can receive commission. Therefore, banks have recently started imposing high fees on clients who seldom use their cards. Millenium charges PLN 65 per annum, Citi Handlowy PLN 60. Open Finance has decided that the best credit card on the market today is the one issued by Citi Handlowy as it offers the most attractive rebate programme and free insurance on fraudulent transactions. Citi Handlowy is not overly demanding when it comes to income requirements either. Alior Bank cards are ranked second by Open Finance, followed by Polbank EFG and BZ WBK.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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Mom Not Afraid To Work

Working Mother

They learn foreign languages, how to use a computer, they also take vocational training courses. Programmes designed especially for mothers are becoming increasingly more common and are often funded in part by the EU. Among women in the 25-34 age group who are unemployed, approximately 75 percent are taking care of their children. The “Mother at work” study conducted last year by a group of sociologists from Lódź University revealed that women are concerned that it will be too difficult for them to meet job requirements and find ample time to care for their children at the same time. They are also worried about the potential difficulties of finding a job resulting from their lack of knowledge and at the same time feel that finding a baby sitter would not be an easy task. Women who wish to return to work should seek financial aid from the European Union as there are increasingly more programmes designed especially for them.

The Wrocław “Job in vogue” project includes a session with a psychologist and a meeting with a job counsellor. Another programme in Wrocław offers workshops that focus on confidence-building for job interviews, vocational training and computer courses. The “Women zone” project which began in Warsaw in January has quickly attracted much interest. Unemployed mothers are the target, as are women over 45 years of age. Participants will have the opportunity to take English and computer courses, they can also expect plenty of guidance and advice from job consultants and psychologists. The organisers have also promised to reimburse all babysitter costs. One of the coordinators of the programme explains that “the schedule is 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This set-up aims to prepare women for a regular workday, make their transition back to work easier and ensure that they will have enough time to put their newly-acquired skills to use while they are still taking part in the course”. Global Training Centre has the most experience in assisting women in making the successful return to work – their project was put into operation back in 2006. The company’s statistics show that over 60 percent of those who participated do return to work, some even decide to set up their own businesses. When asked about the most valuable thing the course has given them, most women mention “the huge boost in confidence”.
Metro

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Debtors And Debt Collectors

Avoiding a Knock on the Door

If you are facing financial difficulties, you are not the only one – around 1.5 million Poles are in a similar predicament. Overdue cash loan instalments alone amount to a dozen or so billion złoty and are steadily increasing. Doing nothing is the worst way out. Banks rarely forget about debts, sooner or later they will demand that a loan be repaid. However, there are ways to handle the situation:

1) Before a bank loses patience there is plenty of time for negotiation. The period between the moment you receive the first phone call or text message reminding you of unpaid loans to the day the financial institution transfers the issue over to a recovery company is normally a few months long. At the end of that period you will be notified of the value of the unpaid amounts, reminder costs, interest and recovery costs. If there is no reaction on the part of the client the bank will place him/her on the black list of debtors.
2) Black lists of debtors are kept by economic information offices, called BIGs. These are privately-owned companies that collect data on individuals who default on all sorts of payments and later sell that information to companies and private persons – anyone who intends to find out whether their business partners are trustworthy. Those who have been placed on a black list usually encounter problems when applying for loans, trying to rent an apartment or purchase a house – their applications are generally rejected.
3) Once you are off the black list and BIGs are controlled by the government, black lists are monitored and verified on a regular basis to ensure that all new entries are justified. Thus, once you have settled all your financial obligations, a BIG is required to remove you from the list upon prior verification.
4) The bank sells your debt if the banks’ efforts to collect the bad debt do not yield satisfactory results. The debt is sold to a company that specialises in debt recovery. This is the solution most often used by banks when it comes to cash loans, especially those that are unsecured. By taking advantage of this method, the bank will manage to recover only a small fraction of the debt’s total value but will be satisfied nonetheless. It will then offset its losses by imposing a loan interest increase for all its other clients.
5) If a recovery company fails to convince you to repay the debt, the matter goes to court. If the court settles in favour of the debt collectors, you will have no other solution but to start paying off the money or else deal with a bailiff whose visit should be best avoided.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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