Post by Jaga on Apr 14, 2008 21:40:52 GMT -7
There are three main reasons, maybe four:
-British currency lost compared to Polish zloty
-There is a different government in Poland (Poles in BG really wanted it to change, they voted)
-More jobs in Poland, limited jobs in GB
-immigrant in first generation would always remain an immigrant
The British press have in recent months been writing with growing concern that Polish immigrants are starting to return home. With concern, because it means that cheap and skilled labour will be less easily available in the British Isles.
'We have no slightest doubt that we're seeing more returns than before. Both the experts and the emigrants themselves are talking about it', Joanna Tyrowicz, economist at Warsaw University told Gazeta.
Experts stress that no precise data on Poles' migration levels are available. So what circumstances do they base their views on? Figures from the UK's Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) show that a mere 38,000 Poles registered in the system in the third quarter 2007, the lowest number by far since May 2004, when Poland joined the EU. This suggests the wave of Polish arrivals has sharply subsided.
Another source of information are surveys among the immigrants themselves. According to a survey conducted recently by the Interactive Institute of Market Research (IIBR), twice as many Poles working in the UK and Ireland are planning to go back home now than last year.
Some 12 percent of those polled said they were planning to return to Poland, up from 6 percent last year. Still, three in four said they weren't planning to return within the next twelve months, and one in two said they had no plans for returning within the next couple of years.
Why do they want to go back? Respondents say the main reason is a longing for Poland and their loved ones, a reply chosen by one in three of those polled. 'When you work abroad and only come for a visit every couple of weeks or months, you suddenly find out you have few common subjects with your spouse, your kids become strangers, and even your own dog starts barking at you', said Prof Jacek Wódz, sociologist at Silesian University.
Close to one in three of those declaring their intention to go back - young people especially - say they have much better career opportunities at home. 'Not all Polish workers have managed to land good jobs, and finding something interesting has been increasingly difficult. Not everyone wants to work on washer or do heavy physical work', said Prof Witold Kie¿un, economist at the Leon KoŸmiñski School of Business and Management. 'Besides, Bulgarians, Romanians or even Lithuanians will more and more often take the same jobs as Poles do, but for half the pay. If a construction worker or a security guard is to work for 800 pounds a month, they may prefer to find a job that pays as much at home.
One in five of those planning to go back mentioned personal reasons, usually marriage, the birth of a child, and the need of stabilisation. 'Years have passed and lot has changed in their lives', said Prof Wódz. 'There, away from home, they had to make the crucial decisions: whether to get married, to have children. The parents realised that if they sent their kids to British schools, they'd find it hard to adapt themselves to the Polish reality'.
Only 13 percent mentioned the weak pound as the main reason, though experts believe the significance of this factor has been growing. 'A couple of years ago, 1,000 pounds made almost 7,000 zlotys. Today, it's less than 5,000', said Prof Witold Or³owski, chief economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers. 'Besides, when they were leaving, there was no work in Poland. Today, most companies in Poland will gladly employ specialists returning from abroad, and pay them not much less than they would make in the UK. Count in the UK's three times higher cost of living and you'll see why many Poles have been thinking about going back'.
Some 7 percent said the reason was that they didn't like Britain and the British. Despite earlier optimism, many Poles have found it hard to integrate with the British society. 'At first, Polish immigrants thought life there was all sweet', said Marek Szopski, sociologist at Warsaw University. 'Now it has slowly dawned on them that interpersonal relationships are different, for instance, the British complain about the Poles being too loud because they party at home. In England, if you want to shout, you go to a pub or a football match. Poles won't ever overcome certain barriers, especially class ones. Poles feel well in the UK, but in Polish enclaves and only there'.
Some experts also point to Poland's improved political climate. 'Four, five years ago people were leaving, complaining that the ruling SLD couldn't create job', said Robert Alberski, political scientist at Wroc³aw University. 'For the last two years they told everyone around how much they felt ashamed of the PiS cabinet. Today they have no one to complain about. They've trusted the economic miracle pledged by Donald Tusk and given him a huge credit of confidence'.
What will they do after returning? According to the IIBR survey, more than one in six want to start or continue their career. More than one in three are planning to resume interrupted
education. One in four are thinking about starting a business.
Maciek and Iza, who've been living in London for over three years now, are planning to go back. They had physical jobs: he as a construction worker, she as an au pair for an elderly person. With their savings, they managed to buy an apartment in Poland.
'Now we want to get married, finish our studies and open a café-gallery', says Iza. 'Not some posh venue for artists, but a place for normal people', stresses Maciek. 'Because such places in Poland are missing'.
What kind of benefits have Poles reaped from working abroad? For the IIBR survey they mentioned their savings, a better command of English, and life experience.
Computed Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) survey, 1,074-strong sample of Poles living in the British Isles
translated by Marcin Wawrzyñczak
ród³o: Gazeta Wyborcza
-British currency lost compared to Polish zloty
-There is a different government in Poland (Poles in BG really wanted it to change, they voted)
-More jobs in Poland, limited jobs in GB
-immigrant in first generation would always remain an immigrant
The British press have in recent months been writing with growing concern that Polish immigrants are starting to return home. With concern, because it means that cheap and skilled labour will be less easily available in the British Isles.
'We have no slightest doubt that we're seeing more returns than before. Both the experts and the emigrants themselves are talking about it', Joanna Tyrowicz, economist at Warsaw University told Gazeta.
Experts stress that no precise data on Poles' migration levels are available. So what circumstances do they base their views on? Figures from the UK's Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) show that a mere 38,000 Poles registered in the system in the third quarter 2007, the lowest number by far since May 2004, when Poland joined the EU. This suggests the wave of Polish arrivals has sharply subsided.
Another source of information are surveys among the immigrants themselves. According to a survey conducted recently by the Interactive Institute of Market Research (IIBR), twice as many Poles working in the UK and Ireland are planning to go back home now than last year.
Some 12 percent of those polled said they were planning to return to Poland, up from 6 percent last year. Still, three in four said they weren't planning to return within the next twelve months, and one in two said they had no plans for returning within the next couple of years.
Why do they want to go back? Respondents say the main reason is a longing for Poland and their loved ones, a reply chosen by one in three of those polled. 'When you work abroad and only come for a visit every couple of weeks or months, you suddenly find out you have few common subjects with your spouse, your kids become strangers, and even your own dog starts barking at you', said Prof Jacek Wódz, sociologist at Silesian University.
Close to one in three of those declaring their intention to go back - young people especially - say they have much better career opportunities at home. 'Not all Polish workers have managed to land good jobs, and finding something interesting has been increasingly difficult. Not everyone wants to work on washer or do heavy physical work', said Prof Witold Kie¿un, economist at the Leon KoŸmiñski School of Business and Management. 'Besides, Bulgarians, Romanians or even Lithuanians will more and more often take the same jobs as Poles do, but for half the pay. If a construction worker or a security guard is to work for 800 pounds a month, they may prefer to find a job that pays as much at home.
One in five of those planning to go back mentioned personal reasons, usually marriage, the birth of a child, and the need of stabilisation. 'Years have passed and lot has changed in their lives', said Prof Wódz. 'There, away from home, they had to make the crucial decisions: whether to get married, to have children. The parents realised that if they sent their kids to British schools, they'd find it hard to adapt themselves to the Polish reality'.
Only 13 percent mentioned the weak pound as the main reason, though experts believe the significance of this factor has been growing. 'A couple of years ago, 1,000 pounds made almost 7,000 zlotys. Today, it's less than 5,000', said Prof Witold Or³owski, chief economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers. 'Besides, when they were leaving, there was no work in Poland. Today, most companies in Poland will gladly employ specialists returning from abroad, and pay them not much less than they would make in the UK. Count in the UK's three times higher cost of living and you'll see why many Poles have been thinking about going back'.
Some 7 percent said the reason was that they didn't like Britain and the British. Despite earlier optimism, many Poles have found it hard to integrate with the British society. 'At first, Polish immigrants thought life there was all sweet', said Marek Szopski, sociologist at Warsaw University. 'Now it has slowly dawned on them that interpersonal relationships are different, for instance, the British complain about the Poles being too loud because they party at home. In England, if you want to shout, you go to a pub or a football match. Poles won't ever overcome certain barriers, especially class ones. Poles feel well in the UK, but in Polish enclaves and only there'.
Some experts also point to Poland's improved political climate. 'Four, five years ago people were leaving, complaining that the ruling SLD couldn't create job', said Robert Alberski, political scientist at Wroc³aw University. 'For the last two years they told everyone around how much they felt ashamed of the PiS cabinet. Today they have no one to complain about. They've trusted the economic miracle pledged by Donald Tusk and given him a huge credit of confidence'.
What will they do after returning? According to the IIBR survey, more than one in six want to start or continue their career. More than one in three are planning to resume interrupted
education. One in four are thinking about starting a business.
Maciek and Iza, who've been living in London for over three years now, are planning to go back. They had physical jobs: he as a construction worker, she as an au pair for an elderly person. With their savings, they managed to buy an apartment in Poland.
'Now we want to get married, finish our studies and open a café-gallery', says Iza. 'Not some posh venue for artists, but a place for normal people', stresses Maciek. 'Because such places in Poland are missing'.
What kind of benefits have Poles reaped from working abroad? For the IIBR survey they mentioned their savings, a better command of English, and life experience.
Computed Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) survey, 1,074-strong sample of Poles living in the British Isles
translated by Marcin Wawrzyñczak
ród³o: Gazeta Wyborcza
