Minister Elżbieta Rafalska emphasized: "85% of work permits and 95% of declarations concern citizens of Ukraine. The remaining documents were issued to citizens of Belarus, Moldova, India, Nepal, Turkey, Armenia, China and Vietnam. The participation of foreigners in the Polish labor market ranges from 2.5% to 5%".
As reported by Polskie Radio, the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy noted that in 2010, 60% of foreigners came to work in agriculture, and in 2017 this figure dropped to 17%. According to her, increasingly, newcomers work in construction and transport, as well as in industry and domestic help.
Recall that from the new year, new rules for employing foreigners in Poland came into force, according to which the declaration of intent to employ a foreigner, previously issued to the employer free of charge, has been replaced by a paid seasonal work permit (costing about 7 euros). Seasonal work permits will now cover the following sectors: crop farming, horticulture, tourism and gastronomy.
"These permits will be of two types: one providing for a two-stage permit process for foreigners who are outside Poland, and one stage for foreigners who are already on Polish territory and have a legal residence permit," earlier reported Director of the Labor Office in Grójec, Marzanna Skoczek.
In the case of foreigners who are outside Poland, the employer must submit an application for a seasonal work permit. Based on this document, the foreigner can obtain a visa to Poland. Holders of biometric passports will be able to enter Poland with such a permit without needing a visa, while the employer will be obliged to register the foreign worker with the labor office.
Seasonal work permits for 6 countries, including Ukraine, will be issued without a labor market test, i.e., assessing the ability to meet staffing needs. In addition, the document will allow the foreigner to work in Poland for 9 months a year, rather than six months as before. The seasonal work permit can be issued for three years.