Metal plant cuts 200 jobs while owner funds 55-metre Virgin Mary statue

Walcownia Metali Dziedzice, part of Roman Karkosik's Boryszew Group, has begun consultations on laying off 200 workers — nearly half its workforce. At the same time, Roman and Grażyna Karkosik are funding construction of a 55-metre statue of the Virgin Mary in Konotop. The juxtaposition, reported by Dziennik Zachodni, has sparked sharp public debate.