1 justyna frelak institute of public affairs polands mechanisms to sustain the reintegration of...

1

Justyna Frelak

Institute of Public Affairs

Poland’s mechanisms to sustain the reintegration of expatriates

2

a non governmental

and non-partisan

public policy think tank

3

Plan of the presentation

1. Polish emigration after May 1, 2004

2. The impact of Polish migration

3. Phenomena of returns

4. Poland’s return and reintegration policies

4

1. Polish emigration after May 1, 2004

5

Background: joining the EU

• Labour market liberalisation

• The debate on opening the labour market

• Polish government policy

6

The scale of post-enlargement migration

• approximately 80% of all migrants went in 2007 to six countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the United States and the Netherlands

• in 2006 Poles were the third largest immigrant group in the UK (318,600), after migrants from India and Ireland

• CBOS: approx. 1 million of Polish citizens working abroad in 2008

7

Profile of post-enlargement migrants• typical Polish migrant worker is young and childless

• migrant community has more men (53%) then women

• dominates 25-44 age group

• less urbanised regions are particularly susceptible to emigration

• UK: Poles that have recently arrived earn less than immigrants in the same jobs who came before 2000

8

2. The impact of Polish migration

9

Receiving countries

• Workers from the EU-8 supplemented the shortage of labour force in the EU-15

• Polish migrants did not cause a reduction in wage levels

• EU-8 immigrants do not cheat the local social security system

10

Poland

• growing labour market shortages

• brain drain or brain waste?

• remittance flows

• immigration policy

11

3. Phenomena of returns

12

Factors influencing people’s decisions to return:

• Polish economic situation

• wages

• family situation

• social and professional advancement (closed/open)

13

Source: IPA, IPPR

14

The vast majority of Polish migrants emigrate because of economic reasons, but return

because they miss home or want to be with their friends and family in Poland.

15

4. Poland’s return and reintegration policies

16

Return policies• Information campaign• Tax abolition• Incentives for professionals and

businessmen • Assistance for families and children• Promotion of Poland• Reintegration on the labour market

17

Other initiatives:

• www.wracajdopolski.pl (return to Poland)

• regional projects