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Justyna Frelak

Institute of Public Affairs

Poland’s mechanisms to sustain the reintegration of expatriates

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a non governmental

and non-partisan

public policy think tank

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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

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1. Polish emigration after May 1, 2004

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Background: joining the EU

• Labour market liberalisation

• The debate on opening the labour market

• Polish government policy

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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

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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

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2. The impact of Polish migration

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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

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Poland

• growing labour market shortages

• brain drain or brain waste?

• remittance flows

• immigration policy

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3. Phenomena of returns

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Factors influencing people’s decisions to return:

• Polish economic situation

• wages

• family situation

• social and professional advancement (closed/open)

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Source: IPA, IPPR

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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.

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4. Poland’s return and reintegration policies

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

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

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Other initiatives:

• www.wracajdopolski.pl (return to Poland)

• regional projects