The subject of Ukrainian refugees is inactive widely commented on in the Polish media space. Many myths and half-truths grew around them. peculiar controversy revolves around social assistance given to people coming from the war-torn country. We decided to take a closer look at this issue and see how many narratives circulating on social media have in common with reality.
Analysis
More about our evaluation system:Refugees from Ukraine are portrayed in many entries and films on the Internet, in a negative light. They are to come to Poland only after “social” and then return to their country. The task of specified narratives is to incite resentment towards Ukrainians fleeing the war. They are expected to build a sense that Poland is only losing on their presence. They appear on many social media, including TikToku is Twitter.
Source: tickok.comThe subject is besides discussed in the political debate. It is peculiarly powerfully promoted in the communities around the Confederation. The most vocal individual reproducing these narratives is Grzegorz Braun. His statements are frequently cited in utmost right-wing and nationalist media. As an example statement presented by portal Nczas.com. He is besides liable for promoting the halt Ukrainianization of Poland run aimed at raising resentment towards Ukrainian refugees.
Source: twitter.comWho's the refugee?
In global law, exile position was defined by the 1951 Convention on exile position and the 1967 Additional Protocol thereto. Both papers were adopted by the United Nations and the parties to these legal acts are 110 countries (including Poland). By definition presented on page United Nations advanced Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
Refugees are those who are outside their country of origin due to fear of persecution, due to conflict, force or another circumstances seriously disrupting public order, which, as a consequence of the above, require "international protection". They are frequently in specified a dangerous situation that they cross national borders in search of safety in neighbouring countries; so they are regarded internationally as “refugees”, persons who are entitled to assistance from another countries, UNHCR and applicable organisations. They are considered refugees precisely due to the fact that their return home is besides dangerous and so request shelter elsewhere. These are people with possibly fatal consequences for refusing asylum.
There is no uncertainty that this definition concerns the overwhelming number of people fleeing Ukraine. At this point, it should be noted that people without legal exile position can inactive be refugees. As indicated Handbook UNHCR:
The designation of exile position does not make individual a refugee, but states that he is. No 1 becomes a exile due to recognition, but is considered a exile due to the fact that he is.
This besides applies to people who escaped from Ukraine before the war. many manipulative narratives in social media claim that only part of our east neighbour's territory is covered by wartime activities. Therefore, refugees should stay in the safe western areas of their country, not flee to Poland. With this myth, we've already dealt with 1 of our own. Articles. We besides pointed out that a large part of the refugees had already returned to their country.
How many Ukrainians are utilizing aid in Poland?
With direct aid from the Polish government uses About 85,000 Ukrainians. This is about collective accommodation centres where refugees from Ukraine receive shelter and board. However, the amendment of the bill proposed by the Ministry of abroad Affairs is intended to make them partially pay for their stay after a certain time. How read Republic of:
As of 1 February 2023, Ukrainian citizens whose stay exceeds or exceeds 120 days from the date of entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland will cover 50% of the aid costs – but not more than 40 PLN per day. From 1 May 2023 refugees with a stay in Poland over 180 days will cover 75% of the aid costs, but no more than 60 PLN per day.
According to the ministry, this is to lead to the activation of persons residing in collective accommodation centres. Of course, the amendment provides for exemptions for people with disabilities, minors or minors. full cost of the aid and payment of 40 PLN per Ukrainian in private premises cost budget of the Polish state over PLN 4 billion. From the European Union, about PLN 700 million have been sent to Poland for this purpose, although Polish authorities request an additional PLN 200 million.
Social benefits and refugees from Ukraine
At this minute in our country stay About 1 120,000 Ukrainians who came to Poland after 24 February. As indicated above, only 85 000 refugees are straight benefiting from government aid. The remainder are self-supported, or usage the aid of local governments or non-governmental organisations, as well as private ones from both Poles and Ukrainians. due to the fact that a large part refugees they have different social benefits, specified as 500+, household capital or household allowances. In September this year right to 500+ has 406,000 Ukrainian children and over 15,000 household capital. These benefits cost Polish budget about PLN 1.5 billion.
Extortion of social benefits
In fresh weeks, the crowning argument to present Ukrainian refugees as harmful to Poland is the issue of fraud of social benefits. In fact, specified a thing happens. 1 of the first people in Poland to draw attention to this was the president of Przemyśl, Wojciech Bakun. Both he and local officials presented the case of organised groups of Ukrainians who come to our country only to registry for social benefits and then return to their homeland.
Social Insurance Institution confirmedthat he began to take massively the rights to social welfare of Ukrainian citizens. Of the 440 000 benefits granted, 500+ and 18 000 household caring capital, payments for about 80 000 people were suspended. This was due to the fact that these people stayed outside Poland for more than 30 days. Thanks to the cooperation of the Border defender and ZUS, the strategy of granting benefits was sealed. The establishment receives automatic information from the SG office about the crossing by a individual with granted border services for more than 30 days.
This does not mean that each of the people who were deprived of their rights to benefits came to Poland to bargain money from the state. specified statements are a crucial over-interpretation. The scale of abuse is unknown, but there is simply a advanced probability that many of these people lived in Poland for many months, having the full right to receive money. Mass exile trips started Not until June. It should besides be noted that the alleged amounts circulating on social media should be considered as false. W with The movie from TikTok states that Ukrainians extorted 240 million PLN from 500+ and 960 million from household Care Capitals (RKO). The origin of this data is unknown. While the scale of 500+ extortion seems to be highly exaggerated, although possible (Poland spent about a billion zlotys for this benefit), claims about the extortion of PLN 960 million from the RKO should be considered entirely false. Until September, the Polish government for this intent released a full of PLN 46 million.
Economic impact
However, refugees from Ukraine are not only a budgetary burden for the Polish state. According to ZUS, in September the number of foreigners employed in Poland exceeded A million. 76% of these people are Ukrainians. Foreigners are over 5% of all insured but at the same time below the pension-retirement threshold and around 1.5% entitled to benefits. This means that foreigners contribute much more to the Social Insurance Fund than they collect from it.
About 40% all persons, which has been granted the position of foreigner of the UKR according to the peculiar law, are women of working age. According to test The National Bank of Poland (April-May 2022) most refugees are women, 60% of whom came with children. At the same time, half have a higher education. This means that the dominant group among people who came to Poland after 24 February are young, well educated women. 80% of refugees in May either had a job, or they were actively looking for it, which means that Ukrainians do not just want to benefit from aid, but besides gain their livelihood. From January to September 2022 people from Ukraine founded Over 10,000 companies, of which 41% run women.
By Investigations conducted by Kantar Polska (June-July 2022) 61% of refugees in Poland took up the job. How indicates Deloitte, the people who escaped the war, can contribute to Poland's GDP growth from 0.2% to 3.5%. Their effective activation will be crucial, but in the long word they can be a valuable component of the Polish economy. They can besides have a affirmative impact on the reconstruction of their home country, including by sending any of the money earned in Poland to relatives surviving in their homeland.
Can Ukrainians be considered refugees?
Refugees from Ukraine are in a circumstantial situation. Most of them come to Poland with the intention of uncovering a occupation in our country. However, it was not the economical situation, but active warfare that forced them to make specified a decision. This means that they fall into the concept of refugee. The fact of taking employment in our country does not disqualify them as people fleeing the war. Narrations about “residencers” from Ukraine that you can meet in social media, 1 should consider as elements of prokremlian rhetoric, which aims to discourage Poles to refugees. As we mentioned in 1 of the erstwhile Articles, most Ukrainians who fled to our country have returned to their homeland. This means that refugees do not want to stay in Poland and “take over” our economy and territory.
Summary
The subject of refugees, social assistance for them and their impact on the Polish budget and economy is complicated. The fact is that there is simply a practice of extortion of benefits both by individuals from Ukraine and by larger groups. However, this problem has been noticed by the Polish authorities and solutions have been introduced which importantly impede abuse. Refugees are to any degree a burden on the Polish budget, but in the long word they may prove to be a valuable component driving the economy of our country. Especially with the ageing Polish society. surely all narratives about the Ukrainianization of Poland and “residence” should be considered manipulative. Most of the refugees have already left Poland, and those who stay have mostly taken up employment and are trying to support themselves. The balance of profits and losses for Poland in connection with the arrival of Ukrainians fleeing the war will should be waited, as it will not be possible to measure it clearly in the future.
Sources
UNHCR: https://www.unhcr.org/en/365-envelopment2016recipient-or-migrant-tlwe-tlwe-divers-and-explain-ich-sens-html.html and https://www.unhcr.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/12/Lieutenant-UNHCR-Rules-i-mode-establishment-status-refugee.pdf
Republic of: https://www.rp.pl/politics/art37301211-Ukrainian-pay-a-stay-in-polska-since-February and https://www.rp.pl/politics/art37286771-polska-exiles-on-help-recipients-from-Ukraine-5-5- billion-zl
Interia Business: https://business.interia.pl/finance/news-polska-release-over-billion-golden-on-help-for-Ukrainiancow,nId,6257578
Election of the Reichs: html
Business Insider: https://businessinsider.com.pl/economy/juz-over-million-foreign-places-składki-w-polska/s8mvh3t
300economy: https://300economy.pl/news/illustrators-from-Ukraine-ma-company-in-polska-pie and https://300economy.pl/news/thanks-integration-refugee-from-Ukraine-in-polska-can-obtain-both-country-indicates-deloitte
National Bank of Poland: https://www.nbp.pl/publications/migration/situation-refugee-from-Ukraine-in-Poland.pdf
Brief. https://brief.pl/portret-ukrainek-i-ukraincow-in-polska-give-glos-visitors-from-Ukraine/
