In 2024, Donald Tusk's government allocated over PLN 402 million to awards for staff of ministries and offices – according to the latest study of the ultimate Audit Chamber. This is only somewhat little than a year earlier, but the scale and structure of the payouts are controversial, especially since bonuses have besides gone to seniors, which was not the standard before. The NIK study shows that the award mechanics in the public administration works in a highly differentiated way and that the rules for granting bonuses stay unclear.
The Ministry of Finance allocated the most funds to bonuses – almost PLN 49 million. This means that all 4th dollar paid for prizes throughout the public administration went to this 1 resort. The average amount of awards in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, where the average bonus amounted to PLN 25.3 thousand, is even more striking. By contrast, in the Ministry of athletics and Tourism, the average prize was only PLN 1.5 thousand, which shows how large the differences between the different resorts are.
Premiums paid to persons in advanced state positions are fresh to erstwhile years. From 2021 to 2024 specified awards were exceptions – now they became a rule. The average value of the premium in the National Election Office is PLN 111.3 thousand, in the Office of the Ombudsman – PLN 78.4 thousand, and in the National Broadcasting Council – PLN 67.4,000. Even at the Central Anti-corruption Office, the average prize reached almost PLN 55 thousand. This is simply a change in human resources policy, which contradicts current practice – and as the critics indicate – besides with Tusk's declared transparency and administrative savings.
Under the current rules, each public institution must allocate at least 3% of the wage fund for prizes. The problem is that the law does not indicate any clear criteria according to which bonuses are to be granted. As a result, each office can grant them according to its own rules, resulting in drastic differences in their amount – even with a comparable scope of tasks and duties.
Such a situation creates increasing irritation among citizens and parts of the public. Experts note that Donald Tusk's government, which has assumed power under the slogans of transparency, austerity and professionalisation of administration, should search to harmonise the rules for granting bonuses and introducing control mechanisms. Otherwise, awards can be seen as a form of a discretion bonus alternatively than a motivational tool.
Faced with the increasing social discontent and the deepening distance between the political class and citizens, the issue of reward payments may become 1 of the crucial points of inflammation for the current government. It is besides a test for credibility in the implementation of the announced administrative reforms, especially those that were intended to reduce the costs of functioning of the state.
