Detention of working Ukrainian citizens is not enough. The Polish labour market needs multiculturalism
The legality of stay of Ukrainian citizens in Poland is to be extended until September 30, 2025. However, according to experts, this is not enough to stop the outflow of workers from our country and permanently secure human resources. The Polish economy needs migrants from distant regions of the world, and Poles must get used to the fact that our society will become even more multicultural.
On 30 April, the government adopted a draft amendment to the Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of Ukraine. It extends, for m.in, temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing the war until September 30, 2025. The new solutions are to enter into force on July 1, 2024, and from next year it will also be possible to change the status of stay from the current temporary protection to temporary residence for a period of 3 years. At the same time, the Ukrainian government wants men of military age to return and is introducing regulations preventing citizens of this country, aged 18 to 60, from obtaining identity documents outside the territory of Ukraine. Although, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the decision to suspend the provision of consular services is a temporary step, sudden and unpredictable political changes are not conducive to stabilization on the Polish labor market. However, experts from the LeasingTeam Group employment agency look at the problem more broadly and warn that even if Ukrainian citizens stop treating our country as a transit country, they are not able to fill the ever-growing staff gaps.
“Of course, it is in Polish’s economic interest to keep Ukrainian citizens working for us. We are not ready for such a large loss of human resources. However, this may not be enough. It is estimated that every year we lose up to 200 thousand professionally active people. Thus, Poland transformed from an emigration country into an immigrant state in a very short time – says Andżelika Majewska, Vice President of LeasingTeam Group. – Demography is inexorable. Without migrants from distant regions of the world, our economy will have serious problems. In the coming years, Poland will see more and more employees from Asia, but also from Africa and South America – adds Andżelika Majewska.
This trend is reflected in the data published in February this year by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. The Central Analytical and Reporting System shows that in 2023, the largest number of work permits were issued to Indian citizens – as many as 45,998. The Nepalese were in second place (35,287), and the Filipinos were third (29,154). Among the nationalities with a five-digit number of newcomers there were also citizens of Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Colombia and Kazakhstan. Representatives of the countries of the current economic immigration to Poland, i.e. Ukraine and Belarus, were issued last year only 7,298 and 6,383 work permits, respectively.
Inclusive actions are needed
The influx of emigrants from distant and culturally different regions of the world is not only inevitable, but also necessary. Is our society ready for this? Experts have doubts about this and emphasize that although diversification of human resources is necessary to ensure the development of Polish organizations and the economic growth of the country, there are still too few activities promoting diversity.
“It would seem that after the fairly efficient inclusion of Ukrainian citizens in our labor market, we are ready for changes. Unfortunately, the growing Asian diaspora continues to be a cause for concern, and the burden of responsibility for inclusive activities, anti-discrimination and building inclusive teams has been taken on by companies and organizations. There is no belief in society that without the citizens of India, the Philippines or Bangladesh, our economy will have big problems, so we need to start talking about it more loudly. Today, much faster than any other country in Europe, we should actively join forces to prepare for legal, economic and social changes – sums up Andżelika Majewska, Vice President of LeasingTeam Group.
Doświadczony analityk rynku pracy, specjalizuje się w badaniach nad trendami zatrudnienia i zmianami w strukturze zawodowej. Jego artykuły, publikowane w renomowanych czasopismach branżowych, pomagają czytelnikom zrozumieć dynamikę rynku pracy.
