New Polish opposition group proposes paying parents “salary” to encourage more births
The idea is part of a package of proposals to tackle Poland's dire demographic situation proposed by the new Development Plus group.
Polish opposition group Development Plus has proposed a policy to address the country's declining population by introducing a "parental salary." This proposal, unveiled on August 7, 2026, would provide a monthly payment of 3,600 zloty (approximately €837) for the first three years of a child's life. This amount is four and a half times higher than the current child benefit payment of 800 zloty per month.
The proposed salary could be combined with income from other work and include contributions towards the parents' pensions. Development Plus emphasizes that the idea is still a proposal, based on expert analysis, and that they aim to refine it through dialogue with Poles rather than implementing top-down provisions. The group's announcement comes as Poland faces a shrinking, aging population, with birth rates at a 13-year low and a fertility rate well below the replacement rate needed to maintain a stable population.
Written by urgent.news from Notes from Poland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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