Legal protection of trade unionists after the amendment of 5 July 2018 to the Trade Unions Act

On 5 July 2018 the Polish Sejm adopted an amendment to the Trade Unions Act. It significantly changes the status of trade unionists at the company level. The starting point for further deliberations is that as from 1 January 2019 these entitlements will be granted not only to trade unionists employed on the basis of a contract of employment, but also  to other persons engaged in gainful employment. By this I mean both those performing work on the basis of civil law contracts as well as self-employed. The July amendment to the Trade Unions Act regarding the legal status of trade unionists concerns their unpaid leaves, leaves from work duties and leaves to perform ad hoc activities and protection of sustainability of employment. These entitlements will be discussed in this Art. in such sequence.