The evidence year in terms of wage increases in the army was 2024. The increases then reached about 20% – said Deputy Minister Stanislaw Wzątek at the gathering of the Subcommittee on Social Affairs in the military. The politician besides explained why they have not yet been paid in this year's budget rise for soldiers. “The case is delicate,” he admitted.
The subject of the Thursday session of the Subcommittee on Social Affairs in the Army was the material-to-person situation of soldiers and civilian army staff and the functioning of military pension offices and strategy pension provision of soldiers. The Undersecretary of State Stanisław Wzątek provided information on this matter. “We are doing everything we can to improve the conditions of service and work of military workers. This is an highly crucial subject for us, due to the fact that it involves guaranteeing and feeling the safety of Poles. We are doing everything we can to improve the level of wages – provided the Deputy Minister of National Defence. He recalled that the evidence year in this respect was the erstwhile year. At the time, MON introduced about 20% of the increase, and in the case of university military teaching staff, it was up to 30%.
How much does a soldier get, and how much does a civilian work in a military?
Stanisław Wąątek reported that in 2024 the average wage in the military was PLN 8761, with the generals being PLN 22,458, elder officers – PLN 14,241, junior officers – PLN 10,429, enlisted officers – PLN 9358 and serial officers – PLN 7062. These amounts include, as the Deputy Minister has reserved, basic remuneration and allowances. The deputy chief of the MON mentioned that last year peculiar allowances were introduced for individual groups, e.g. aircraft personnel. – In 2024 we allocated over PLN 61 million for this intent – he said.
On the another hand, the average wage of civilian workers of the military reached PLN 8253. – Compared to the staff of another ministries, it is not the lowest, but we know that expectations are greater due to the fact that in the military civilian workers frequently execute very akin tasks as soldiers. And from this point of view it is simply a crucial difference between uniforms and civilians," argued Deputy Minister of Takes. At the same time, he assured that the management of the Ministry of Defence wanted to reduce this imbalance. The representatives of the MON stressed that civilians in the military are earning more and better. In 2022 the average wage amounted to PLN 5773, 1 year later – PLN 6561, and in 2024 it increased by almost PLN 2000. And that's not over. According to the Undersecretary of State, negotiations are presently underway with, among another things, the army's trade unions on wage increases. Of course, regardless of the increase in the budget law (5% since January 2025). He recalled that last year peculiar support in the form of prizes and bonuses was paid respective times (from PLN 500 to PLN 1773 per position). – We are negotiating and considering the anticipation of providing additional support, transferring additional funds. I hope that we will scope a fast agreement that will let civilian workers to receive increased salaries within a month," the Deputy Minister said.
On the another hand, the subcommittee members asked erstwhile this money would go into soldiers' accounts. As previously announced, a 5% wage increase was to be paid in March (with an adjustment from January). But that is not going to happen. Why? – We have been ready to pay for a long time, but the substance is simply a delicate nature and I can talk about it on a large level in general – the Deputy Minister Stanisław Wzątek revealed. – Well, another services would like to have the same proposals as soldiers and (transfers will not be – ed.) until a compromise has been reached on the matter, in specified a way that we will either reduce or they will increase – explained the Deputy Minister. – We are talking about the amount of the lowest soldier's wage at the level of PLN 6400, their lowest is somewhat lower and they would like to have equalized – said Stanisław Wzątek.
– Don't give up, due to the fact that you gotta compare up – encouraged MON management Marcin Ociepa (PiS), chair of the subcommittee.
How do soldiers justice their material situation?
Among the social benefits requested by soldiers, the most popular are the co-financing of remainder (44 000 people) and cash benefits for holidays (22 000 people). There is besides an expanding interest in the right to discounts on rail journeys.
How do soldiers themselves view their material situation? According to a survey conducted last July by the Military Civic Education Centre, the largest military group – 39% – evaluates it as “good” and 36% as “good”. Compared to 2022, it is simply a crucial improvement in the temper in the uniform environment. At the time, only 22% of soldiers were described as "good" by their material conditions, while 30% were described as "better good". 3 years ago, the largest percent of respondents were those who replied that their households were "no good, no bad" (38%, and in 2024 – 22%).
The subcommittee besides discussed the deadline Military household Charters. It was a paper to warrant soldiers, military workers and their close relief in public institutions and preferences, for example in public transport or access to daycare. The Minister of Defence spoke about accepting the card last autumn. However, the government on this substance has not yet been passed. – This is the author's thought of Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz – recalled the Deputy Minister. He added that this initiative besides enjoyed the officers of uniformed services under the Ministry of abroad Affairs and that they expected specified solutions besides to be introduced in relation to them. That is why work is being carried out on a paper to be called the Uniform household Charter and to concern both military and officers. Unfortunately, it is not known erstwhile work will end in this area.
Deputy Minister of Takes besides informed that the release of the new models of soldier IDs (they will be akin to individual IDs, but without a photo). The hotel is besides looking for a solution to the alleged old wallets, i.e. old-rule pensions (not suitable for military service in the army before systemic transformation). However, representatives of the Ministry of Defence stressed that all proposals to compensate for these pensions now entail immense budgetary costs, which, unfortunately, is not conducive to a fast resolution.
