Ukrainians forced by the war to seek a safe place to live temporarily abroad found their first refuge and support in Poland. Poland quickly opened its borders to millions of Ukrainian refugees, providing them with housing, access to work, language courses and basic social benefits. However, as winter approached, the situation changed: more and more Ukrainians began to see Poland as a stopgap on their way to Western Europe, where social support is more developed and stable. In this article, we will take a closer look at why Poland is becoming a ‘transit country’ for Ukrainians and how this affects the Polish economy, which is heavily dependent on Ukrainian workers.
Why Poland is becoming a ‘transit country’ for Ukrainians
According to inPoland,a labour market analysis agency, Gramy Personal, Poland is increasingly becoming a temporary destination for Ukrainians. Ukrainians are increasingly choosing Western European countries, in particular Germany, Denmark, Norway and other countries that offer extended social support. The main reasons for Ukrainian refugees to leave Poland include:
Stricter migration laws in Poland
Polish authorities have significantly tightened migration legislation, restricting access to certain types of assistance and services for newly arrived refugees. For many Ukrainians, this has become a significant obstacle, as the more complicated procedure for obtaining residence and work permits limits the possibilities for long-term stay.
Reduced social benefits
Initially, Poland actively supported Ukrainians with high social benefits, access to free housing and other resources. However, over time, these benefits have been reduced or partially cancelled, making Poland less attractive than other countries where such support is not only available but also more stable. For example, in Germany, refugees are provided with free housing, access to language courses and a wide range of employment support services.
Less favourable public attitude
Initially, Polish society actively supported Ukrainians, but over time, the growing number of refugees has begun to cause some tension. Some groups of the population are sceptical about the increase in the number of migrants, which increases social pressure and forces Ukrainians to seek a more peaceful environment to live in other countries.
Search for higher standards of social support
Countries such as Germany, Denmark and Norway not only provide more stable social support, but also offer better conditions for integration into society. Here, refugees can count on free language courses, which facilitates easier adaptation, as well as greater access to state aid, which allows them to achieve economic stability faster.
Ukrainians make up a significant share of the labour force in Poland, especially in seasonal and temporary employment. The sectors that are most dependent on these workers are transport, logistics, and the food industry. The outflow of Ukrainians leads to a number of problems for Polish businesses, including:
Shortage of workers in the TSL sector (transport, forwarding, logistics)
The transport and logistics services sector in Poland has traditionally been dependent on foreign labour, including Ukrainians, who occupy a significant number of positions. The pre-New Year period is traditionally the busiest time for this sector, when the volume of orders increases rapidly, but due to the outflow of labour, companies risk facing disruptions in operations and the inability to fulfil orders in a timely manner.
Impact on the food industry
The Polish food industry is also heavily dependent on seasonal workers who work in factories and farms. As winter approaches, demand for workers traditionally increases, but this year’s shortage of Ukrainian workers could lead to serious disruptions in production processes.
Implications for the economy as a whole
The absence of a significant number of Ukrainian workers may lead to higher recruitment costs, as Polish companies will have to offer higher wages to attract other workers. This may increase the prices of products and services, which will negatively affect final consumers.
Prospects and necessary changes in Poland
It is important for Poland to consider revising its refugee policy and expanding access to social support for Ukrainian citizens. Poland could also consider simplifying the procedures for obtaining residence and work permits for Ukrainians, which would allow them to stay in the country longer and more stably. These steps could help to retain the Ukrainian labour force, which is important for the stability of the Polish labour market, especially as the country faces a labour shortage.
Engaging Ukrainians in long-term employment could have a positive impact on the Polish economy, contributing not only to improving production processes but also to strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
