THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENTS DURING THE STATE OF EPIDEMIC EMERGENCY OR STATE OF EPIDEMIC, ANNOUNCED ON GROUNDS OF COVID-19. COMMENTS DE LEGE LATA AND DE LEGE FERENDA

Abstract

In Art. 15 gf of the Act of 2 March 2020 on special solutions relating to the prevention, counteraction and combatting COVID-19, other infectious diseases and the resulting crisis situations, the legislator introduced a right to terminate non-competition agreements. The purpose of this article is to examine if that right does not interfere excessively with the interests of employees, mandatories and contractors, and if it does not disturb the balance between the parties to non-competition agreements. The research problem is analysed on several levels. The constitutional approach is adopted (in terms of compatibility with: the principle of a democratic state ruled by law; principle of proportionality; principle of equality before the law). Also, interpretation of the examined provisions is presented and complexities it may trigger in practice. Conclusions of the performed analysis are a basis for the presented amendment proposals intended to mitigate the negative consequences of the examined provisions.