Gender and age discrimination on the labour market in Poland: the compliance of Polish law and practice with International instruments

Abstract: The principle of equality and non-discrimination in employment existed only in a very basic form in the Polish law until the fall of Communism in 1989, even though Poland had already ratified some major international instruments in this area, such as the ICCPR, ICESCR and the ILO Fundamental Conventions. The first positive development in Polish law concerning the principle of equality and non-discrimination in employment took place with the drafting of a new Constitution of the Republic of Poland in 1997. Its provisions on equality and non-discrimination are basic, but they cover all spheres of life and can be interpreted very broadly. However, it was during the period of transformation to a free-market economy and the accession to the EU that the real and far-reaching legal changes were made. This thesis aims to examine the level of compliance of the Polish law and practice with the international instruments, with the focus on gender and age discrimination as well as their cumulative impact on older women on the Polish labour market.