Polish Labor Is Scarce as Workers Go West

This is the “second” Poland, a diaspora of 800,000 Poles estimated by officials here to have left the country since it joined the European Union in May 2004. The exodus is believed to be one of the largest migrations by Europeans since the 1950s, when a wave of Irish crossed the Atlantic to escape poverty.

But in Poland, this huge movement of people has created a labor shortage so severe that the government may not be able to spend the money that is due to begin arriving in January from the European Union for projects like improving roads and the water supply."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/16/news/migrate.php?page=1

Now is the time

GO BACK TO POLAND IF YOU REALLY LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN?

source: The New York Times, November 19

Why they did not mention, that they already have Ukrainian, Belarusian etc. workers
(some of them holding university diplomas) to do this job illegaly and/or almost for free?

They are filing the gap very quickly. Many of the people I know here in Warsaw have Ukrainian/Belarusian nannies for their kids. Some of these women with proper education work also in hospitals, since most of the Polish staff is in the UK/EU. Many strong and poor men from these countries work here often illegaly for low wages doing all kind of odd jobs... so what's the problem ?

When Polish government stop discussing condoms and contraceptions influence on people's health , and make this country more civilized in terms of economy and life standards , migrant workers may come back, if they are stilll alive...

The only one thing that prevents me from going to the UK, is that I do not want to use my university diplomaS as a toilet paper, like my well-educated, young, beautiful Polish friends .
I wouldn't like to see myself as a modern slave.But who knows, maybe if I am not able to feed my kids you will meet me there...

Why muslims can be racist and I cant? Look at uk he is muslim and all his posts are anti-polish but noone yet said him that he is racist, ppl try to discuss with him but its pointless because you cant discuss with trolls.

I fully understand you getting upset at times Ola, we all do but by deflecting that anger on another nation like the UK where i come from doesn't serve any real purpose..

I have visited many Forums recently, especially Vancouver ones where i am moving too, and believe me the venom and racists remarks made there are remarkable. I think this is an excellent, well maintained and good natured forum compared to them. So you get a few trolls from UK, big deal !! does that mean you believe it reflects the opinion all all UK people. Many of whom write in this forum with intelligent and constructive comments?

I came here to learn more about Polish culture and opinions myself, because i never really knew much. A few comments anger me, but nobody will completely agree with other people.

Wouldn't that be boring?

OI i'm not anti-polish. I don't hate polish peoples at all but i don't want them in UK anymore. I always complain about poles in UK not in poland. You guys downgrading our economy, our education systems & taking all our money ( benefit, NHS)

Poles comes here like ant (one after another) so stop coming here like that.

Stop agreeing to work with low wages

Stop calling others racist... btw we all know who really don't intregrate with other europians
( poles)

I guess it's too late now to change it.

Many people in PL suffer from poverty, that's why they go there believing that they will change their lives.

They work hard, sometimes they also study and really are too tired to socialise.
It's about survival for them, not about having fun, unfortunately.

Many of these folks do not speak English or are at intermediate level and do not understand British accent.

Such is life.

And this is both governments' fault ...

UK_ Don't you think it is the British goverment you should be venting at and not the Polish people, Like every other E.U member state the Polish are entitled to come and go as they please. I believe that the UK cannot cope with the number of migrant workers that will soon follow. But that is down to goverment and nobody else.

They integrate and at least they are not trying to explode metro stations and kill the ppl like muslims.

Interesting that the most anti-polish are other immigrants or born in UK kids of immigrants.

Not your business, go back to your own life and leave us alone you muslim.

and make this country more civilized in terms of economy and life standards , migrant workers may come back, if they are stilll alive... [/quote]
I agree

if you got your degree after Poland joined the EU and your english is good, there is no reason you wouldnt be able to get a good job here...There was a progamme on the other evening and Polish people were interviewed, one was an accountant the other a trainee journalist....hardly toilet cleaners...Polish people with the right qualifications are doing well in the UK

Both interviewed have no intention of returning to Poland any time soon, both were female and in their early 20is and loved the fact that they were not under any pressure to marry and pop out sprogs....

Unfortunately, I have MA in Polish Philology and Culture Studies. I graduated after PL joined EU. Most of my friends graduated from different Philology departments, Art, Philosophy, Cross-Cultural studies, European studies, Political Science etc. They live in UK for about two yrs. Most of them work in hotels and in factories. Their English is good. Some of them have even MA degree in English Philology. Sad but true.

At least they have money and make normal living unlike those young who stayed, proud but poor.....

I dont want to sound rude when I say this, but its not really a practical degree.. English with these kinds of degrees dont end up in their chosen field, but a degree will get them in the door for other kinds of jobs most large companies in the UK run graduate schemes that are funded by the government, so the education isnt completely wasted..

uk i told you once that you try to be more british than the brits are.you want to be regarded as an english man but make so many grammatical errors.this only shows how british you feel,having lived in this country all your life,you should speak perfect english but it shows that the only people you mix with are your fellow muslims who also don't speak english. i am gonna show you your grammar errors and don't tell that your scottish cos it is pathetic.

correct me if i am wrong but it should be" in the uk"

"you guys are"

"like ants"

"doesn't"


anyone else want to have a go?
btw uk_ if you really love your country move back there your goat is already there

Hi Uk . I see your saying go back. Poland needs workers. Whats the going Rate for an experienced contractor . For example A backhoe operator here makes anywhere from 20 to 65 dollars an hour. A contractor here with a licence can demand up to 110 an hour with a crew or by himself.

So tell me what was the going wage , or insentive to work there .
Did the article say anything about what project.

I know from my cousins in poland who came here they said it was hard in poland to find a good job.
My cousins huband is an arkitect. Polish university degree. What would he be worth drawing all the new roads and buildings or what ever is planned.

I'm not sure if having two s****, low paid jobs and studying/ continuing education at the same time makes a "normal" living. When I was 19, I came to the US. I was working then in the sandwich bar as well , I believe it was called "Au Bon Pain".It was extremely positive experience for me AT THAT TIME. I met many nice, interesting, artistic people. I lived and worked not far from Harvard Sq.,Cambridge, MA.

Then I came back to PL to finish my studies. I am not going to work as a waitress or baby- sitter anymore. Here in Warsaw where I was born, I work as a teacher in a private languages school and as a proofreader for translation company. I am involved in cultural projects in The Center for Contemporary Arts. I am trying to get a job in PR corporations.
I know I would not have such a good position in the UK. And I'm 26.

And I may have less money than my frends... Obviously, they have British Pounds or Euros and I have Polish Złoty...Howewever, I do not have to work two jobs 16 hours a day and then study for my school, having aleady gained a degree from Warsaw University. Most of my friends do not live in well-standard places, because they cannot afford to rent a good place. I do not want that kind of life....

If I leave Poland , it will be mostly because of the government and the right-wing mentality that is domineering here, not because of the money.

I was in the UK before. I was invited there by the PL Embassy for the linguistic show as a qualified teacher of Polish as a second language to present my workshop on teaching Polish. It was a good experience as well. I may get a job over there as a teacher unless I have some special education and methodical courses done in England. They are too expensive right now for me. Maybe in the future... But working as a baby-sitter, waitress, cleaning lady, factory worker is not for me... I do not want this kind of job.