Employees of the global labor market and the Polish social security system

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this article is to determine whether privileging a professional group in the national social security system - persons working at sea (officers and ratings) and therefore on the global labor market - is justifiable for the national economy. Privileges would be to adopt rules for collecting social security contributions a way different than the one commonly used. Its assessment would be taken from the economic point of view. Thus, the assessment of economic rationality of creating a gap in the social security system for people working at sea is the basic theme of the research presented in the article. Approach/Methodology/Design: The characteristics of the modern maritime labor market was based on a review of the literature. The analysis of reports on ship operating costs indicated a key element which is the cost of crew employment. A comparative analysis of crew employment costs resulting from the Polish social security system and a selected social system attractive for seafarers showed huge disproportions. The next step was to calculate the benefits and costs of applying non-common rules. These rules were prepared by Polish ship management companies. Findings: The results of the conducted research clearly show that the introduction of reliefs for Polish seafarers in the Polish legal system will not be a burden on the Polish budget, but it will also generate revenues that the budget is currently deprived of also. Practical Implications: The research results clearly show that the introduction of separate regulations for people employed on ships, i.e. on the global labor market, will generate favorable conditions for shipping operations in Poland and for registering ships under the Polish flag. This, in turn, thanks to high multipliers of shipping activities can translate into faster development of the maritime service and production sphere. Originality/Value: The results precisely indicate positive, from the economic point of view, effects of creating a gap in the social security system for seafarers, highly qualified employees of the global labor market.