Infringement by employer of duty of supporting employees in their endeavours to develop their occupational qualifications as off ence against the rights of people in paid work

In view of the protective function of labour law the protection of employment relationship through criminal law appears to be justified. Due to the de facto imbalance between parties to an employment relationship the risk of abuse by the employer of its stronger position is much greater, in comparison with, the contractual relationships. At the same time, in the light of the principle of subsidiarity of criminal law only particularly grave employees rights violations entail the criminal liability. In this regards, the article is going to determine, whether the infringement of the employer's obligation of facilitate professional employee development, that is governed by the Article 17 and Article 96 section 6 of the Polish Labour Code, can be treated as a crime against the employee's right that stem from the employment relationship and is typified in the Article 218 $\S$ 1a of the Polish Criminal Code.