Polish salaries - New statistics

31 Jul 2011 / #31

I'd be curious what the employer's perspective is.

I can say one thing - there's a huge black market here. That might be the "official" salary - but for instance, take postmen. They have their official wage, but due to the system of people getting cash through the post (especially pensions) - there's a culture of them getting tips. Do you think this income goes recorded?

Likewise, small businessmen (and there's a lot in Poland!) - how many of them are really declaring everything? For instance - my door was broken, so I called a guy that was advertising on Gumtree. He came over in the evening, fixed it and took the cash - all without a receipt.

but poor retired babcia

Bear in mind that this is sometimes caused by the greed of the children - the grandchild needs looked after, but the mother doesn't want to pay for childcare - so babcia is forced into retirement in order to provide free care.

It doesn't take into account people that have kept ownership of their apartments after communism fell. The pay very low property taxes and fees- yet basically own their apartments outright so they have more disposable income.

Exactly. It's often ignored that many people in Poland got a 'free' property after the end of Communism.

As far as I'm concerned : the minimum and average wage figures simply do not reflect the reality of the huge black market here. For instance - where I park my car. Four people working there, all quite obviously retired. Are any of them really paying tax on what they earn? Of course not.

SeanBM 34 | 5781

31 Jul 2011 / #32

huge black market here

When I first came to Poland 10 years ago, the minister for enployment said that a small business in Poland could not survive 100% legally.

There might be a few very high earners in Warsaw distorting the mean up

And there are plenty of people in Polska B distorting the mean down.

delphiandomine 86 | 17823

31 Jul 2011 / #33

When I first came to Poland 10 years ago, the minister for enployment said that a small business in Poland could not survive 100% legally.

Same in most countries, if you ask me.

I'm thinking now - look at these photocopying places. When was the last time anyone got a receipt?

milky 13 | 1656

31 Jul 2011 / #34

there's a huge black market here

There is a huge black market in every country. The point is, that in Poland the average salary is tiny in comparison to the costs of living, petrol,rent, mortgages etc.. I guess this is why Britain and Ireland etc are flooded with qualified Polish workers willing to work in any area. If there was a strong black market, it would be otherwise and people would not be getting 50 year mortgages.

beckski 12 | 1609

31 Jul 2011 / #35

Minimum is 1386 zl/m.

I could spend that amount in just one weekend!

Seanus 15 | 19666

31 Jul 2011 / #36

That's the official minimum but many earn around 800PLN

milky 13 | 1656

31 Jul 2011 / #37

Minimum is 1386 zl/m.

I could spend that amount in just one weekend!

you can get three time this on the dole in Ireland. Point is, people survive on 1386 zloty in Poland.

JonnyM 11 | 2607

31 Jul 2011 / #38

people survive on 1386 zloty in Poland.

Many survive on less. But in cities, most get far more.