The conversation is led by Marcin Wandałowski, editor of the publication of the Civic Congress.
Migration is an issue of very hot media, easy polarizing society. How do we view them in a rational and pragmatic way?
Over the last fewer years, Poland has evolved from a typically emigrating country to immigration, with economic, social and political consequences. Despite the fact that, as you have pointed out, the subject of migration is highly politicised, it is worth looking at it in a factual way, which involves 2 key issues.
Firstly, we should be able to learn from the mistakes that another countries have made in the past. Secondly, it is crucial to bear in head social needs, and so how Poles perceive migration, which sees its advantages and what they fear. Let us then effort to adjust to these expectations and concerns. This will not be easy, for the image we are dealing with present is very complicated. Moreover, the modern world, including migrations, is changing very quickly, and the anticipation of planning this process in the longer word seems alternatively unrealistic. The late announced migration strategy so only refers to the next 5 years.
If a 20 - year - old boy comes to our country, he is likely to spend 40 or 50 years there. It is rather possible that he will decide to have children who will already be members of the second and 3rd generations of people surviving in Poland.
Can current migration be a remedy for the current problems of employers, i.e. they are a fast way to patch up staff gaps?
If we were to presume that the point of migration is to respond to the needs of employers, we would make a cardinal mistake for many Western countries that thought that way. The claim that the persons in question are coming to a abroad country in order to supplement the labour marketplace shortages in the short term, and then, with the money earned, to return to their homeland, is absolutely incorrect and historically never worked. This is best demonstrated by the return programmes carried out by Germany, France or Sweden and have worked very little.
Therefore, migration processes should be viewed, not in terms of a year or two, but in terms of the full life of a person. If a 20 - year - old boy comes to our country, he will most likely spend another 40 or 50 years there. It is rather possible that he will decide to have children who will already be members of the second and 3rd generations of people surviving in Poland.
We cannot look at migration solely from the position of a simple economical account. We are talking about people who come with individual needs, expectations, experiences, but besides deficits. We should not see them as robots or machines that we brought to Poland to produce any good or offer any service. specified awareness is highly valuable today, especially given that the resources of people coming to our country from close countries have practically exhausted. If we agreed that in subsequent years tens of thousands of people would arrive in Poland from distant locations not only geographically but besides culturally, it would make immense challenges and yet it would not be worth it.
Migrants come with individual needs, expectations, experiences, but besides deficits. We should not see them as robots or machines that we brought to Poland to produce any good or offer any service.
As a host country, do we have the right to have any kind of request for migrants?
Modern migration policy is simply a selective policy that determines who and under what conditions can enter a given country. If we are talking about the labour market, it is crucial not only to have qualifications useful in filling local shortages but besides to be re-qualified. The point is that a individual should be able to find a fresh occupation – not necessarily in an educated profession – in case he loses his first job.
In terms of retraining, the key thing in Poland is cognition of the Polish language, which is the basic component of integration with the indigenous peoples of our country. Without Polish it will be very hard for a foreigner to find himself in another profession. In turn, an immigrant who uses it can participate in various types of courses or retraining training. The hazard that he will be unemployed for a long time will then be comparatively low, especially since our labour marketplace is absorbent.
Modern migration policy is simply a selective policy that determines who and under what conditions can enter a given country.
Referring to the selective nature of migration policies – do we even have the right to choice foreigners according to their countries of origin?
By all means – and that is already happening. delight note that since 2007, the instrument of employer's message on the intention to entrust work to a foreigner, concerning migrants from 5 countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Armenia, has been in force in Poland. This is an perfect example of a selective migration policy and, in this case, of selecting countries to which we have a more liberal policy in terms of access to our labour market. All countries in the planet do, including us.
Does Poland have a chance to become an attractive destination from the point of view of professionals from Western Europe?
The migration attractiveness of Poland grows with each year, resulting in advanced quality of life and unchangeable labour market. Of course, the war behind our east border is an component that can negatively affect it. However, it seems that the hazard of a dramatic situation for our country is not high.
In general, erstwhile individual comes to Poland and can see for himself what he truly looks like, he breaks the first stereotype that says that Central and east Europe is poor, backward and dangerous. Then, very often, he begins to see our country as a place he could decision to permanently. If we look at data on the acquisition of real property by foreigners in large Polish cities, we see that this trend is growing. We are becoming an increasingly attractive country for migrants, including those from Western Europe. Many expats employed in companies operating in Poland come from this area. Furthermore, as has been confirmed in various studies, many of them would like to stay on the Vistula River as long as possible.
When individual comes to Poland and can see for himself what he truly looks like, he breaks the first stereotype saying that Central and east Europe is poor, backward and dangerous. Then, very often, he begins to see our country as a place he could decision to permanently.
Can it be said that Poland is the most attractive settlement destination for the expeditions in the Central and east Europe region?
I can talk about capitals – we are definitely fighting Prague and Budapest. While even a fewer years ago the distance to them was rather noticeable, Warsaw is already standing with them in 1 line – as a city with a socio-economic offer of the same level. There is simply a chance that another Polish metropolises will join the competition in this field in any time.
