The constitutional right to social security

The subject of this article is the issue of the constitutional right of citizens to social security when reaching the retirement age. The author points out the constitutional principles which guarantee the protection of pension benefits and gives examples of statements of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Tribunal with respect to the issue of social security schemes in their judgments. This article also discusses the scope of freedom which the Constitution grants to a legislator and the boundaries within which a legislator may act as far as the selection of solutions for the implementation of this right is concerned.

The principle of work protection under the  Constitution of the Republic of Poland

In this article the authors will make an attempt of analysis of the principle of work protection reflected in the Article 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland with special consideration of the normative character of the provision which statutes it. Indicated provision of the Constitution, in Chapter I entitled „The Republic (Rzeczpospolita)”, is included to basic principles of the State’s social-economical system. The work – subject of protection – will be shown as a specific public good (value) and one of the main basis of economy functioning and its development, and also as a source of human dignity and the most typical basis for livelihood for the majority of citizens. The authors will also draw attention to relationship of the principle of work protection to such constitutional principles as the principle of ownership and the principle of freedom of management. Also important is the issue of State obligation range of work protection from the point of view of its legal title to executing and its purpose. The principle of work protection should be considered in the context of more general state principles, in particular, order of executing by the State the principle of social justice, and – in consequence – providing additional protection for employees, in order to leveling the adverse effects of economic advantage of employers. Beyond the scope of consideration remains the issue of relationship between law or freedom and obligation in the context of the work protection, because its analysis would exceed this compilation. Certainly this subject deserves for separate discussion.