Melania Bornstein-Łychowska (1874–1962) was a social policy expert and civil servant whose work contributed to the development of social welfare and labour rights in Poland during the interwar period. Born into an assimilated Jewish family, she pursued education at the Flying University in Warsaw before continuing her studies in Zurich, where she earned a doctorate in public law and political science. Throughout her career, she remained dedicated to improving the living conditions of the working class and advocating for social policies that aimed to provide economic security and welfare support to vulnerable populations.

Her early career saw her engaged in charitable and educational work, particularly through the Warsaw Charity Society and the Reading Rooms Association of Warsaw. It was during this period that she developed a keen interest in the socio-economic struggles of impoverished communities, as well as the role of women in the labour force.

A turning point in Bornstein-Łychowska’s career came in 1918, when she joined the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. Over the next two decades, she ascended to the position of senior councillor, leading initiatives that sought to address labour rights within the framework of a capitalist economy. She was also an active member of the Institute of Social Economy and the Polish Society for Social Policy, advocating for policies that acknowledged the economic contributions of women and promoted their inclusion in all aspects of professional and public life. As a researcher in the ministry, she published extensively on the International Labour Organization (ILO), labour standards, labour inspection internationally, and other labour-focused issues.

Her deep engagement with issues affecting women was not centred on women’s political rights. A doyenne of the Polish women’s movement, Cecylia Walewska remarked:

She did not fight with her pen or with her living words for women’s political rights. However, because she belonged to associations created under the slogan of equal rights, and thanks to her works calling for the use of women’s might in all professions and all state-building activities, she must, in the final analysis, be recognised as an outstandingly meritorious activist in the field of women’s matters.

Her contributions to social reform, particularly her efforts to integrate women into economic and public life, left a lasting impact on Polish society. During World War II, Bornstein-Łychowska confronted the threat posed by the Nazi occupation. At times using a fictitious name, she managed to evade persecution. After the war, she retired from public service and spent her final years in Warsaw. Bornstein-Łychowska’s legacy is one of non-contentious but profound influence. Through her research and publications on social policy, she helped shape the welfare framework that aimed to improve the conditions of Poland’s working class and marginalized communities. With her research, advocacy, and public service, she strove for a more inclusive social and economic policy. In recognizing her life’s work, the Polish government awarded her the Gold Cross of Merit in 1929.

Her story serves as a reminder that social change is driven not only by direct, militant activism but also by the persistent efforts of those who work within institutions to reform unjust systems. In a society where women were often expected to remain in domestic roles, she stood as an example of self-reliance and intellectual independence. Through her writings, policies, and personal example, Melania Bornstein-Łychowska championed an internationalist vision of social justice based on robust labour rights and gender equality.