CHAPTER 2.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

Article 7.

1. The Polish People's Republic promotes, on the basis of socialised means of production, trade, communications and credit, the economic and cultural life of the country in accordance with the national economic plan and, in particular, through the expansion of Socialist State industry, which is the decisive factor in the transformation of social and economic relations.

2. The State has the monopoly of foreign

trade.

3. The principal aim of the planned economic policy of the Polish People's Republic is the constant development of the productive forces of the country, the continuous raising of the standard of living of the working people, and the strengthening of the power, defence capacity and independence of the Fatherland.

Article 8.

The national wealth, that is, the mineral deposits, waters, State forests, mines, roads, rail, water and air transport, means of communication, banks, State industrial establishments, State farms and State machine stations, State commercial enterprises and communal enterprises and utilities, is the subject of special care and protection by the State and by all citizens.

Article 9.

1. The Polish People's Republic strengthens, according to plan, the economic bond between town and country founded on brotherly co-operation between workers and peasants.

2. For this purpose, the Polish People's Republic secures a continuous increase in the output of State industry, serving to meet the allround needs of the rural population in their capacity as producers and consumers; at the same time exerting a planned influence on the constant growth of production of agricultural commodities which supplies industry with raw materials and the urban population with foodstuffs.

Article 10.

1. The Polish People's Republic protects the individual farms of working peasants and assists them with a view to safeguarding them against capitalist exploitation, to increasing production, to raising the technical level of agriculture and to improving their welfare.

2. The Polish People's Republic gives special support and all-round aid to the co-operative farms set up, on the basis of voluntary membership, as forms of collective economy. By applying methods of the most efficient collective cultivation and mechanised work, collective farming enables the working peasants to reach a turning point in production, and contributes to the complete elimination of exploitation in the countryside and to a rapid and considerable improvement in the level of its prosperity and culture.

3. The principal forms of State support and help for co-operative farms are the State machine stations, which make it possible to employ modem technology; and State credits on easy terms.

Article 11.

The Polish People's Republic promotes the development of various forms of the co-operative movement in town and country and gives it every help in the fulfilment of its tasks, while extending special care and protection to co-operative property, as constituting social property.

Article 12.

The Polish People's Republic recognises and protects, on the basis of existing laws, individual property and the right to inherit land, buildings and other means of production belonging to peasants, craftsmen and persons engaged in domestic handicrafts.

 

Article 13.

The Polish People's Republic guarantees to citizens full protection of personal property and the right to inherit such property.

Article 14.

1. Work is the right, the duty and a matter of honour for every citizen. By their work, by the observance of work discipline, by work emulation and the perfecting of methods of work, the working people of town and country add to the strength and power of the Fatherland, raise the level of prosperity of the people and expedite the full realisation of the socialist system.

2. Work champions enjoy the respect of the whole nation.

3. The Polish People's Republic gives increasing practical effect to the principle: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his work".