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A report by Polish daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita has claimed that Poczta Polska’s parcel division could be spun off to allow fellow state-operated Orlen to better take on competitors like InPost, DHL and DPD.
According to Rzeczpospolita, the Polish Government believe the burden of having to make universal service obligations for letter delivery is holding Poczta Polska back.
Therefore, plans are afoot for Poczta Polska’s parcel delivery service to be given to Orlen, the state-owned petrol station company who now also have a network of parcel lockers and convenience stores.
Commenting on the reports, Piotr Moniuszko, head of Poland’s Free Trade Union of Postal Workers, told Rzeczpospolita:
“Looking at the economic situation of the company, it is the only salvation for employees and a chance to keep jobs. If the government does not have instruments to compensate the post office for losses incurred in providing universal service and maintaining unprofitable postal network outlets, the burden falls on the shoulders of employees. After the division of the company, the exclusion of the KEP segment and the transformation of the remaining part into a state-owned public utility company, Poczta Polska will be able to finance the company’s losses directly from the state budget.”
The idea of national postal carriers spinning off their parcel delivery divisions is not unique to Poland; there have been calls for similar moves in Belgium among other European nations.