POLISH POLICY TOWARDS LABOUR

MIGRATION

Marcin Kulinicz Head of Unit of Migration Policy

Department of Migration

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

I. New trends on the Polish labour market since the accession to the EU

 emigration of Polish employees, mainly to UK and Ireland;  shortage of qualified workers in some economic sectors, mostly in construction and agriculture;   increasing interest of Polish entrepreneurs in employment of foreigners from third countries;

       

• significant drop of the rate of unemployment: significant drop of the rate of unemployment: • in in MarchMarch 200 20088 – 11, – 11,11%%

in comparison: in comparison:

IIIIII 200 20077 – 14, – 14,33%, %,

IIIIII 200 20066 – 17, – 17,88%, %,

III III 20020055 – 19 – 19,2,2% % • Increase of wages: in Increase of wages: in Mar Mar 20020088 - - 31443144 PLN (gross) PLN (gross)

((annual growth 10,2 %)annual growth 10,2 %)

I. New trends on the Polish labour market since the accession to the EU

II. Work permits in Poland – general statistics

AllAll 20052005 20062006 20072007

Number of Number of applicationsapplications

16 92116 921 14 18114 181 1602416024

Number of issued Number of issued work permits work permits

10 30410 304 10 75110 751 1215312153

II. Employment of non-EEA nationals in Poland – general statistics

The most popular The most popular countriescountries

20052005 20062006 20072007

UkraineUkraine 26972697 32753275 38513851

VietnamVietnam 10671067 999999 10641064

BelarusBelarus 610610 704704 855855

RussiaRussia 486486 405405 419419

TurkeyTurkey 415415 503503 567567

MoldovaMoldova 136136 414414 971971

ChinaChina 240240 405405 801801

IndiaIndia 445445 427427 434434

Republic ofRepublic of Korea Korea 175175 322322 534534

III. Procedures on employment of non-EEA nationals in Poland - general rules

Foreigners that are to be employed in Poland Foreigners that are to be employed in Poland must obtain work permit, must obtain work permit, whichwhich is issued after is issued after the assessment of the situation on the labour the assessment of the situation on the labour

marketmarket (economic needs test). (economic needs test).

III. Procedures on employment of non-EEA national in Poland - general rules

Application for issuing the work permit (employer)

The promise of work permit (the foreigner does not possess

a document legalizing his/her stay in Poland) - issued by the voivod

The visa for the purpose of work – issued by the consul

The tepmporary residence permit – issued by the voivod

Work permit – issued by the voivod

Work permit (the foreigner possesses

a document legalizing his/her stay in Poland) - issued by the voivod

IV. Institutional basis for implementing the Polish policy towards migrations

  1.1. The establishment of new departments responsible for The establishment of new departments responsible for

migration issuesmigration issues::

AA. Department of Migration . Department of Migration ((in the Ministry of Labour in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policyand Social Policy) – ) – in charge of labour migration.in charge of labour migration.

B.B. Department of Migration Policy Department of Migration Policy ((in the Ministry of in the Ministry of Administration and InteriorAdministration and Interior) –) – in charge of in charge of coordination of migration policy.coordination of migration policy.

IIVV. . Institutional basis Institutional basis forfor implementing implementing thethe Polish Polish policy towards migrationspolicy towards migrations

2. Creation of The Committee 2. Creation of The Committee forfor Migration Migration

(Feb 2007(Feb 2007))

Main intentMain intentionion - - co-ordination of tasks and co-ordination of tasks and agreed actions of agreed actions of the the public administration in public administration in relation to the migration policy and monitoring relation to the migration policy and monitoring of migration policy of migration policy initiatives initiatives on the Eon the EUU level level

VV. . LLiberalisation of access iberalisation of access to the Polish labour marketto the Polish labour market

1. 1. The opening of Polish labour market for all citizens of EU (also Romania and Bulgaria) and The opening of Polish labour market for all citizens of EU (also Romania and Bulgaria) and other countries of EEA as well as for Switzerland since January 2007other countries of EEA as well as for Switzerland since January 2007;;

2. 2. Easier rules for members of boards – 6 months in consecutive 12 without a work permitEasier rules for members of boards – 6 months in consecutive 12 without a work permit

3. Liberalisation for citizens of neighbouring countries – 6 months in consecutive 12 months 3. Liberalisation for citizens of neighbouring countries – 6 months in consecutive 12 months without a work permitwithout a work permit

4. New opportunities for remunerated trainees4. New opportunities for remunerated trainees

5. Open access to the labour market for foreign students5. Open access to the labour market for foreign students

66. Radical reduction of the fee for issuing the work permit from 936 PLN to 100 PLN. Radical reduction of the fee for issuing the work permit from 936 PLN to 100 PLN for the for the basic basic work permitwork permit

VI. European migration policy

1.1. General framework directive on admission conditions and General framework directive on admission conditions and procedures for economic immigrants (with purpose to procedures for economic immigrants (with purpose to guarantee a common framework of rights to all third – guarantee a common framework of rights to all third – country nationals in legal employment admitted in a Member country nationals in legal employment admitted in a Member State but not yet entitled to the long-term residence statusState but not yet entitled to the long-term residence status))..

2.2. 44 directives:directives:

• On the conditions and residence of highly skilled workers – On the conditions and residence of highly skilled workers – Blue card,Blue card,

• On conditions and entry of seasonal workers,On conditions and entry of seasonal workers,

• On conditions of entry and residence of remunerated trainees,On conditions of entry and residence of remunerated trainees,

• On entry, temporary stay and residence of Intra-Corporate On entry, temporary stay and residence of Intra-Corporate transferees (ICT).transferees (ICT).

3. 3. Proposal for a directive on sanctions against the employers – Proposal for a directive on sanctions against the employers – so – called so – called Frattini DirectiveFrattini Directive

VII. Conclusions

• the number of issued work permits did not change the number of issued work permits did not change substantiallysubstantially in the last 3 years, in the last 3 years,

• most of the work permits is issued to the executives, most of the work permits is issued to the executives, advisors and experts,advisors and experts,

• Legal work in Poland is not very attractive toLegal work in Poland is not very attractive to ununqualified workers,qualified workers,

• Poland is still seen as the transit countryPoland is still seen as the transit country to the Western to the Western Europe,Europe,

• more restrictions have been imposed on foreigners by more restrictions have been imposed on foreigners by Schengen regulations in particular regarding the visa Schengen regulations in particular regarding the visa policy.policy.

Thank you for attention

Marcin KuliniczDepartment of Migration

Marcin.Kulinicz@mpips.gov.pltel. 022 380 51 53

Ministry of Labour and Social Policyul. Nowogrodzka 1/2/3

00-513 Warszawa, Poland www.mpips.gov.pl