Poland: Were workers who quit their jobs at private enterprises during martial law considered dissenters? Information on consequences of quitting a job under martial law
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | POL0768 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Poland: Were workers who quit their jobs at private enterprises during martial law considered dissenters? Information on consequences of quitting a job under martial law, 1 May 1989, POL0768, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aad614.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information specifically dealing with the abovementioned questions could be found among the sources available to the IRBDC, Ottawa, at present.
During the period of martial law, Poland did permit private enterprises to operate, mostly small businesses which were subject to numerous restrictions. [ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1983, (Washington: U.S. Department of State, 1984), p. 1060.] Martial law, which had been imposed in December 1981, was partially suspended in December 1982 and lifted completely in July 1983. [ Europa Year Book 1988, (London: Europa Publications, 1988), p. 2180.] Reports indicate that individuals were arrested under martial law provisions if their behaviour "justified suspicion that if they remained at liberty they would not observe legal order or would engage in activities endangering the interests of the security or defence of the State". [ Amnesty International Report 1983, (London: Amnesty International, 1983), p. 266.] By July 1986, most individuals detained under the Martial Law, totalling more than 35,000, had been released. [ Europa Year Book 1988, pp. 2180-2181.] For a detailed account of the grounds for arrest under the martial law, please refer to the attached document (Amnesty International Report 1983, (London; Amnesty International, 1983), pp. 266-267).
When lifted, martial law was replaced by a series of laws which contained some of the same restrictions. [ Ibid.] One of these laws, effective throughout 1983, limited freedom to change jobs. Country Reports 1983, p. 1061.
However, no information on sanctions for voluntary resignation during the periods under these series of laws could be found in the sources available to the IRBDC.