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Poles Go to Work Abroad


Anjas  
13 Nov 2006 /  #1
Poles are not afraid to work abroad. During the last two years after our accession to European Union around 400 thousand Poles went to work in EU countries. The greatest number went to Great Britain and Ireland as well as Germany. Poles are quite successful; not only do they work on building sites, in hotels and restaurants, but more and more often they occupy positions in administration and marketing, sometimes also supervisory. Since the 1st of May 2006 Poles may undertake legal work also in Greece, Finland, Spain and Portugal, some countries open up new sectors of economy or enlarge levies. There are however countries which do not welcome Polish workers.

There are already over 200 thousand Poles working legally in Great Britain which is a total of 59 % of all emigrants from the new member states of the European Union with Lithuanians being the second (45 thousand) and Slovaks (36 thousand).

Young and single people are among those who mainly choose to seek their future job abroad; over 80 % of them are less than 34 years of age. Only one in fourteen is over 45 years of age, says the report of the British Ministry of Internal Affairs. Poles still leave our country without their families – 94 %. Only 3 % emigrate with children, but the changes are slowly beginning to appear. Home Office report shows that the number of the arrivals of Poles into Britain become more and more intensified. In the second half of 2004 51 thousand Poles went to work legally in Britain whereas in the second half of 2005 the number reached as many as 72 thousand. The most people leave Poland in summer months, June and July, the least in December, being traditionally a family time in Poland due to Christmas which is in our country always celebrated as a family gathering. As many as 97 % of Poles work full time in Great Britain, they are very eager to take up shifts in weekends. On Saturdays they can earn as much as 180% of daily wages, and on Sunday even 200%, so that kind of work is very profitable for them.

Just after the accession of Poland into European Union, Poles took up simple and unqualified jobs, at present the number of Poles working on more demanding positions is growing rapidly; there are 63 thousand Poles working on administrative and secretarial positions. Plenty of Poles work in a production sector; every third Pole works in a big factory, mainly at an assembly line or as a packer, but more and more often Poles supervise the job of others. Many Poles work in restaurants and pubs and this market is literally dominated by our nation with 45 thousand Poles who have found their jobs there. We work as bartenders and waiters, but also 2 thousand Polish chefs emigrated to the UK to work, 20 thousand work in agriculture (with the number receding) , 10 thousand in food – processing and in health system.

The majority of legally working Polish emigrants earns from 4.5 to 6 pounds per hour. Just after Polish accession to the European Union the wages were smaller, but later Poles turned out to be efficient laborers and their wages jumped up. Poles start to gain better opinion abroad, being considered as loyal and effective workers; they do not tend to change jobs frequently, which is appreciated by employers. Half of Poles are employed full time, the rest have temporary jobs (they are mainly students who are not looking for any permanent positions).
mmm  
16 Nov 2006 /  #2
All in all I have to say this trend of Poles going to work abroad is slowly changing. Companies start to give better wages and don't treat their employees as slaves anymore. It's getting harder and harder to find a good worker in Poland.
ola123  
16 Nov 2006 /  #3
I cant agree with that. Wages are better only for builders who all are abroad. Nothing is changing, going abroad for work is very trendy.
mmm  
16 Nov 2006 /  #4
Yesterday I talked to my aunt; she's been working in a Polish factory for the last 20 years. But now she says many of her coworkers quit their job in this factory because there are many new factories being built in in the area and they pay 20% more TO START than after 20 years of working in the old company. Not to mention that the old company didn't give their workers any raise for the last 5 years. Go figure. I think it's especially noticeable in the regions where there's a foreign capital (called "special regions" that have lower taxation rates than in other parts of Poland).
Amathyst  19 | 2700  
16 Nov 2006 /  #5
I cant agree with that. Wages are better only for builders who all are abroad. Nothing is changing, going abroad for work is very trendy.

I can only speak for one Polish person I know, I helped her get in the finance sector (well I got her an interview - she did the hard bit) she earns about 7 pound an hour...for a clerical thats a pretty good wage by British standards for a junior member of staff, she gets paid leave and all the same perks that the other staff have she is only on a contract because she goes back to Poland next Sept. to continue her studies, but the company has a student scheme and Im sure if all works out well, she will have a job there the in summer holidays for as long as she wishes. The pharmacist at my Boots chemist is Polish and they get paid well, its not just construction where Polish are doing well, the Polish that have got their degrees after they went in to the EU can use their degrees over here and they are, Polish accountants, Polish teachers, Polish Journalists...you name it they are doing it...
EnemyCommander  7 | 7  
16 Nov 2006 /  #6
btw, what do people think of their countrymen leaving just cuz UK or US has better standards? are they seen as sellouts?
sara07  - | 15  
8 Mar 2007 /  #7
Merged: Why the most popular polish job abroad is cleaning service&construction?

I'm doing processing for loans and frankly sometimes I'm shy why most of them are with job for women’s- are cleaning service and men's - constructions .

Come on guys! those jobs are easy ! I agree but we don't need to continues this from first generation There is a lot of options to improve your language and position even withouth green card (I guess)

Huge services cleanings I'm telling you guys some of them are with good income - so silly
hello  22 | 891  
8 Mar 2007 /  #8
I assume you mean Polish jobs abroad, not in Poland...
Goonie  8 | 242  
8 Mar 2007 /  #9
yeah, i think this only applies in America

hmmm... it's all about what you know and how driven you are

polish women are great housekeepers hence they fall into that field, the pay is decent and usually pays cash

polish men are hard working and good with tools hence they go into construction, plus the pay is excellent.

I went to college and got a job, most people dont have that opportunity though and they have to make ends meet... my mom works at a bakery and my dads a truck driver, both came to Chicago in their 30s.
hello  22 | 891  
8 Mar 2007 /  #10
The lack of the language, illegal immigration status could be the cause too.
gues69  
8 Mar 2007 /  #11
Working as a cleaner they make 3 times more than working in an office (requiring a university degree) in Poland so there's no reason why they shouldn't do it. Poles are good at contruction jobs so they do what they do best (and contruction jobs pay pretty good).
sara07  - | 15  
8 Mar 2007 /  #12
I agree and completely understand this but : I have a lot of them like woman25 guy 29 both speaking english and don't want to change this- what they doing only happy with this because of cash - They are young come on!

also I understand temporary when someone working and improving his knowledge can do easy jobs but for 20 year cleaning (also got application with 20years experience)

really weird when exp.; russian or other nations children’s are dentist, doctors etc. and have a good jobs
I think family should support new generation to change this do not stop in the same place
hello  22 | 891  
8 Mar 2007 /  #13
I know a young couple (around 30) both Masters Degree from Poland and they've been working in Chicago area as cleaning service team. But they don't know English and have no driving license/SS. On the other hand, they prefer to listen to the Polish radio and watch/read Polish TV/newspapers so it seems they are happy after all.
Eurola  4 | 1898  
8 Mar 2007 /  #14
I can understand the first generation having to do any kind of of work, but there is no excuse for their kids. I also know some young people stuck with cleaning jobs and no desire to do anything better, even tough they claim to have degrees from Poland.

I don't like it. I don't get it. I wish, we polish women did not have "the opinion" of being such good housekeepers...being great nurses if not doctors, lawyers or bankers would be better... Of course they are plenty of them in Chicago, but they are mostly serving the non English speaking Polonia.

On the brighter side, we sure know how to manage our money wisely and buy a house in no time (often for cash).
Bartolome  2 | 1083  
11 Mar 2007 /  #15
When I moved to the UK, I started off with a cleaning job, but now I've got something better than that. So by and large waiting for a long time for some professional upgrade has paid off.
Rose2  
24 May 2007 /  #16
Merged: The popular professions that Polish women work abroad

I have a question. What are the professions that Polish women who emigrated from Poland work? I mean - I know there are many Polish women who work as a nurse, cleaning lady, with older people, sometimes as a hostess or model. Any other popular professions among Polish women working abroad?
hello  22 | 891  
24 May 2007 /  #17
Maybe teacher, translator, waitress.
slwkk  2 | 228  
24 May 2007 /  #18
Many of them work as waitresses...
polishgirltx  
24 May 2007 /  #19
I know many working as nannies and profesional engineers.
hello  22 | 891  
24 May 2007 /  #20
Many of them (what country?)
Rakky  9 | 217  
24 May 2007 /  #21
In my neck of the woods (Putnam County, NY) there are a LOT of female Polish immigrants who are cleaning ladies (some better than others). Second generation Polish women can do whatever they want - there are no limits. I see them in all walks of life. My good friend is a third-generation Lemko who worked for IBM and several other major corporations before all of the IT-support jobs were outsourced overseas (India, Pakistan, Belarus, etc.) - now she is an administrative support person in a school system - quite a step down for her.
polishgirltx  
24 May 2007 /  #22
in the US
peterweg  37 | 2305  
24 May 2007 /  #23
In the UK, cleaners, bar/waitress staff, office work.
FISZ  24 | 2116  
24 May 2007 /  #24
I work with a PL immigrant who has been in the US for 18 years and is a successful VP at AT&T. I also know a few Dr.s that are from Poznan. Things are changing and the cleaning ladies are dwindling. There are a lot of Latina cleaning ladies now.
TheKruk  3 | 308  
24 May 2007 /  #25
In my neck of the woods (Putnam County, NY)

Yah don't say I used to live in Cold Spring ! Now I be in Katowice.
Rakky  9 | 217  
25 May 2007 /  #26
Hi, TheKruk,
Were you born in America? If not, how is it you came to live in Cold Spring? It's quite a lovely town - a bit too expensive for me, but very nice. Why are you now in Katowice? How do you like it? According to a map I'm looking at, it appears that you are about 50 miles from Krakow - is that correct? I very much hope to visit Krakow someday - hopefully in the next few years, with my father.
bunia  1 | 134  
27 May 2007 /  #27
when i came to UK i started as waitress then sales assistant. Then actually got my current job. Some of my female friends work on flowers factories.

Mainly depends on level of their english.
Polska22  
29 May 2007 /  #28
I just do the sex thing you know, cause good money. I am very lucky to make such serious coin.
Malwa  1 | 8  
21 Jun 2007 /  #29
Based on my experience - in Uk you start from scratch & climb on the ladder. There are some kicks on the way, but it is like a good school of survival. The funny thing is that in Poland you can be Ms magister and in UK you mean absolutely nothing.
tomciok2000  - | 7  
18 Jul 2007 /  #30
that is true, if you do nothing, if you try, it helps a lot

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