Poland's unemployment is at 16%. Government's stringent laws on employment has not been helpful. Eg if an employer has more than x employees, it must provide a bidet in the washrooms; if more than y employees, it must provide toilets for the handicapped. All these are very good but it makes it very expensive for smaller businesses to hire anyone. As a result, individuals set themselves up as one-person business. They then sell their service to another company. So the hiring company pays for the services of another company instead of paying for an employee, although, it is actually a traditional employer-employee relationship. It spares the hiring company from all kinds of government regulations and tax wise, it works out better for both parties.
- my ex-colleague in Poland, on the Polish employment situation