Preliminary data from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy show that in the first 4 months of 2025 103,2 1000 permits were issued in Poland. The Colombians received the most of specified consents. The following places included citizens of the Philippines, India, Nepal and Uzbekistan. At the same time, only 1.2 1000 permits were issued for workers from Ukraine.
From January to April this year, 103,2 1000 permits were issued for the work of foreigners. This is the consequence of the preliminary data provided by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (MRPiPS). This is 12.5% little than in the same period last year, erstwhile 117.9 1000 were recorded. According to Michał Wysłocki, the manager in the Immigration EY Polska Team, an expert in the ABSL Business Services Leaders Association, 1 of the reasons for the decline is tightening the conditions for obtaining a licence and then visas to execute work. Employers are subject to more detailed control by the authorities than before, for example, of actual business activity.
– Furthermore, it is inactive dominant to employment Ukrainian citizens who, under peculiar regulations, can do work without authorisation. Also, the hard access of foreigners to applications for Polish visas can origin them to request little frequently to get the work permits essential for visa proceedings. More frequently we are dealing with the continuation of the work of foreigners already residing in Poland, who legalize their stay and work, obtaining temporary residence permits, not work permits,” Wysłocki comments.
Piotr Rogowiecki, manager of the department of analysis and government of the organization Employer of the Republic of Poland, reserves that the simplification in the number of permits issued does not in any case consequence from the deficiency of request for workers. The marketplace needs are inactive enormous. Additionally, Wioletta Żukowska-Czaplicka, a socio-economic expert, notes that the decline in abroad participation in the Polish labour marketplace is felt by employers.
– Employers request hands to work here and now. According to the assumptions of the Migration Strategy, Poland is to accept mainly foreigners with circumstantial skills and to deficit professions. Meanwhile, employers request workers not only in professions where peculiar skills are required, but besides in the execution of simple jobs on construction sites or drivers. Not all deficit professions require highly specialized or unique skills. These are besides physical works which Poles simply do not want to do anymore. And here is the biggest problem – says the expert.
In the first 4 months of this year, the highest number of work permits were granted to citizens of Colombia – 15,4 thousand. Michał Wysłocki believes that the popularity of this direction is due to the fact that Colombians usage the visa-free movement, which makes it much easier to bring specified workers.
– True, in August 2024 the Polish government blocked the anticipation of Colombians entering Poland in the visa-free movement, if the declared intent of their stay is to work. However, if they already enter Poland for tourism purposes, the regulations do not prohibit them from entrusting them with work on the basis of a work licence – the expert from EY Poland reserves.
Piotr Rogowiecki of Polish Employers adds that Colombia is characterised by advanced poorness and unemployment. For Colombians Poland is besides a cheaper country to live in than Western Europe. In general opinion, workers from Colombia rapidly adapt to the requirements of the Polish market. They are characterized by advanced work ethics, including commitment and cognition of English.
– These workers are ready to execute professions which – according to the “Barometer of the professions. Forecast for 2025’ – they are considered to be deficits. Among them can be mentioned professions specified as masons, plasterers, warehousers, car mechanics, installers of construction installations, operators or mechanics of earthworks equipment and welders. These professions are not willingly undertaken by Poles," Rogowiecki adds.
In the following places we see the citizens of the Philippines – 12.5 thousand, India – 10.6 thousand, Nepal – 7.6 1000 and Uzbekistan – 7.2 thousand. In the top ten, there are besides people from Indonesia – 6.1 thousand, Zimbabwe – 4.2 thousand, Bangladesh – 3.9 thousand, Kazakhstan – 3.8 1000 and Turkmenistan – 3.5 thousand. Wioletta Żukowska-Czaplicka notes that the most work permits have been issued for citizens of these countries for years. Additionally, the expert notes that for Asian workers Poland is not a halt on the way to the West but a destination.
– economical factors are crucial, but safety is besides important. Poland is considered a secure country. statistic besides show that specified workers, erstwhile coming to work here, want to stay longer, not just gain and return. It should be noted that, for example, Hindus usually talk English very well. It is besides crucial that qualifications are useful in sectors specified as IT and industry. Employers besides appreciate the loyalty and industriousness of Asian people, says the expert.
In the case of Ukrainian citizens, the number of permits in this period was 1.2 thousand. Michał Wysłocki reminds that since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, peculiar regulations have been in force in Poland. Thanks to them, any legally resident citizen here Ukraine may carry out work without a work licence provided that the entrusting entity sends a notification to the office of employment within 7 days of its employment. In practice, therefore, work permits have been replaced by notifications.
– Everything has its limits and in this case too, the number of people from Ukraine who could possibly emigrate to us is moving out. In addition, Poland is increasingly treated as a alleged transit country. Ukrainians decide to live and work in Western Europe. It must not be forgotten that shortages of people of working age affect most EU countries. At the same time, Ukrainians are a culturally akin nation to another Europeans. This makes them attractive, possible employees, but besides "neighbors" – summarizes the manager of the department of analysis and government of the organization Employers of Poland.
text and photograph source: MondayNews.pl
