Piotr Rogowiecki of the Employers of Poland organization told Poland's PAP news agency that Ukrainians are concentrated in essential but low-preference roles, such as elder care, hospitality, and food services—jobs often filled by migrants in wealthier countries.
“Ukrainians, or foreigners in general, work where Poles no longer want to,” Rogowiecki said, adding that the phenomenon is natural in developed economies.
Poland granted Ukrainians unrestricted access to its labor market under a special law adopted after Russia’s invasion in 2022. Refugees who arrived after February 24, 2022, can work legally by obtaining a PESEL identification number.
The law also removed the need for permits or declarations.
However, the special legislation has undergone several amendments, including a provision tying benefits like the “800+” child allowance to employment. Starting January 1, applicants for PESEL numbers must appear in person.
According to the government, the current law will remain in effect until March 4.
President Karol Nawrocki has signed what his office says will be the last law of this kind, signaling a shift toward treating Ukrainians under general immigration rules.
The Interior Ministry is drafting a law to phase out the special provisions. Some elements, such as the PESEL UKR system for verifying legal stay, are expected to be retained under the general law on foreigner protection.
Rogowiecki emphasized that any regulatory changes must be announced clearly and early enough to allow migrants, employers, and public offices to prepare. “Not every Pole follows legal updates, let alone foreigners,” he said.
He warned that a poorly handled transition could disrupt Poland’s economic growth. “It’s not politics, it’s a fact,” he said.
About 80 percent of Ukrainians in Poland are employed — a level far higher than in neighboring countries. In comparison, the employment rate among Ukrainians is 48 percent in the Czech Republic and 25 percent in Germany, according to Rogowiecki.
“There’s a false narrative in public debate that Ukrainians are abusing the system,” he said. “In reality, they fill labor shortages that would otherwise remain unaddressed.”
As of December 2024, over 1.19 million foreigners were registered with Poland’s social insurance agency ZUS, up from 1.13 million a year earlier. The majority come from Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia.
A March 2025 report by Poland’s state development bank BGK found that Ukrainians made up about 5 percent of Poland’s workforce, with most employed in industry, construction, services and transport.
Their presence contributed an estimated 0.5 to 2.4 percentage points annually to Poland’s GDP between 2013 and 2024.
(jh)
Source: PAP