History

The Order of the Standard of Labour was established by the Sejm in 1949, but it was officially discontinued in 1992 following the collapse of the communist regime. It could be conferred upon Polish citizens, military units, and institutions in recognition of meritorious contributions to socialism and industry in Poland, although it was primarily conferred upon miners for 20 and 25 years of meritorious service.

There are two versions of the I Class Medal that differ in inscription. The first version, awarded from 1949-1952, features initials that stand for “Rzeczpospolita Polska” (Republic of Poland), while the second version features initials that stand for “Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa” (Polish People’s Republic).

There may be additional versions of the I Class Medal that differ in size or composition.