The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is launching a campaign to raise awareness of workers' rights among Ukrainian migrants in Poland.
This is stated in the organisation's press release.
According to a labour market survey conducted by the IRC, last year 70% of refugees from Ukraine identified finding a job as their most pressing need. People who have found safe haven in Poland still say that securing a stable source of income remains one of their main concerns.
However, often unsatisfactory working conditions, including below minimum wage, lack of legal protection, unregulated working hours and in some cases non-payment or other forms of abuse are the main barriers that prevent refugees from finding safe and stable employment in Poland.
The IRC will provide basic information on where to look for services, what types of contracts exist in Poland and what obligations the employer has towards the employee, as well as useful sources and contacts for more information or legal support from partners.
We strive to reach Ukrainians in Poland, as well as those who are still in Ukraine but thinking about leaving the country, to help them make more informed decisions. To do this, we are working with a number of Ukrainian opinion leaders to highlight both the details of the legislation and the stories of people who are already working within the current legal framework.
Background. Refugees from Ukraine registered in the Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population (PESEL) have the right to find a job if they have a signed contract agreed by both parties, with a monthly full-time salary of at least PLN 3,490 gross. In July 2023, the minimum monthly salary will increase from PLN 3,490 to PLN 3,600.
The survey, conducted by EWL Group in cooperation with the Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, shows that 6% of respondents plan to stay in Poland permanently, 15% – for several years after the end of the war, and 27% – for at least a year after the end of hostilities. Another 22% declare their intention to return to Ukraine as soon as possible, and 12% plan to leave Poland for another country.
The researchers reported that 59% of refugees from Ukraine in Poland have higher or incomplete higher education, 32% have vocational education and 9% have secondary education. The most common professions for refugees from Ukraine upon arrival in Poland are hospitality (29%), services (18%), manufacturing (14%), retail (11%), agriculture (7%), and logistics (7%), the study said.