Duda’s veto, announced by presidential chief of staff Małgorzata Paprocka, follows Monday’s consultations with the Social Dialogue Council, a key institution in Poland that facilitates tripartite social dialogue, bringing together government, employee, and employer representatives.
“Listening to the social partners, the president decided to return the bill to parliament for further consideration,” she said.
The proposed law, drafted by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s cabinet, would have reduced the standard 9% contribution for entrepreneurs to a lower flat rate from 2026.
Supporters argued it would relieve a key economic group burdened by higher payments introduced under the previous government.
Opponents, however, warned the proposal would exacerbate disparities between wage-earners and business owners. At a monthly income threshold of PLN 8,000 (about €1,900), salaried employees would have paid twice as much health contribution as entrepreneurs, Paprocka noted.
She also highlighted an unapproved multi-billion-złoty deficit in the National Health Fund and warned of liquidity issues in the second half of the year.
Critics, including opposition MPs and medical associations, argued the cut would deepen Poland’s healthcare crisis by diverting resources away from patient care.
“Reducing entrepreneurs’ contributions will increase NFZ’s reliance on the state budget, pitting healthcare against other public spending,” said health policy expert Wojciech Wiśniewski.
Prime Minister Tusk reacted on social media, noting it was one of President Duda’s final acts before his term ends.
“PiS raised entrepreneurs’ health contributions, I proposed a cut, and Duda vetoed it. They can still do harm—91 days remain,” he wrote.
The veto forces lawmakers to revisit the measure before any reduction can take effect. Duda indicated he is open to constitutional, socially balanced reforms to the entrepreneurs’ contribution structure.
(jh)
Source: PAP