On the 2nd of October 2019, Zamoyski Palace hosted Gala marking the 30th anniversary of Employers of Poland: an organisation that aims to create an employer-friendly country.  During the Gala, 30th anniversary Vectors were awarded, which went to people whose economic achievements or contribution to the development of Polish entrepreneurship over the last three decades were especially significant. Among those distinguished is Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, who received Special Vector.

The Gala was graced with the presence of: Minister Paweł Mucha, Vice-chief of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda; Minister Sławomir Gadomski, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health; Maciej Miłkowski,  Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health; Jarosław Pinkas, PhD with habilitation, Chief Sanitary Inspector; Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz, PhD with habilitation, Chairman of the Polish Bank Association; and Bronisław Komorowski, former President of the Republic of Poland; former prime ministers: Waldemar Pawlak and Jan Krzysztof Bielecki; former Chairman of PAN, Prof. Michał Kleiber; Adam Struzik, Mazovia Province marshal;  Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź; Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wrocław; Wadim Tyszkiewicz, Mayor of Nowa Sól and many other representatives of the Parliament and officials.

As written in the laudation, Prof. Henryk Skarżyński was awarded for „helping thousands of people suffering from hearing disorders thus changing their lives for better. For developing methods so pioneering and effective that they have become a model for doctors all over the world.”

Justifying the choice of the Jury, the President of Employers of Poland, Andrzej Malinowski, stressed that its members, who act in the interest of Polish entrepreneurship, try to have a very broad perspective, as they are perfectly aware that work does not exist in detachment from other activities and thinking of work, one has to perceive a human being. That is why  dealing with the economy, they are interested in a human being, the condition of the whole society. From education and science to the most important thing – health.

– The jubilee is a time for looking back. – said President Malinowski, giving compliments to Prof. Henryk Skarżyński – Looking back on the past 30 years of the development of Poland, we can see many bright spots. These are the greatest achievements, milestones in the development, ground-breaking decisions. There is a strand of achievements among them that overshadows the others. These are your achievements, Professor!

Prof. Henryk Skarżyński did not hide his emotions as he thanked for the award: – 30 years ago I was in Paris and for the first time watched operations performed by Prof. Henry Chouard – pioneer in the area of Cochlear implants in Europe. This gave the impetus for the establishment of the „Human being to a human being”  Medicine Development Foundation, which made a huge contribution to the building of the World Hearing Centre. So, from the perspective of the labour market, I have directly contributed to the creation of over 1500 jobs, thanks to which the specialists employed among others in the Institute of the Physiology and Pathology of Hearing have for 16 years performed the most hearing improving operations per day. Over these 30 years, over 4 million people have benefited from various forms of help. And I – being the strictest employer to myself – have performed over 200 thousand operations – added Prof. Skarżyński.     

30th anniversary Vectors of Employers of Poland also went to Polish local governments. In the category of Provincial Governments, 30th anniversary Vectors were awarded to Masovia and Pomerania governments. In the category of Metropolises and Cities with over 500 thousand inhabitants – 30th anniversary Vectors went to government of Lódź, received by Mayor Hanna Zdanowska, and government of Wrocław, received by Mayor Jacek Sutryk. In the category of Urban Municipalities and Urban and Rural Municipalities, the winner was Nowa Sól. All of the distinguished local governments were awarded for “special achievements in creating conditions for the development of business.” The Jury also awarded Vector of Hope to the Social Dialogue Council. It was collected by Dorota Gardias, Chairman of the Council, and handed by President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski.

The celebration was graced with performance by Sławek Uniatowski and Ada Rusowicz, and  the hosts were Odetta Moro and Marcin Prokop.