By the end of the first half of this year, the number of individuals who indicated a nationality other than Polish in their retirement and disability insurance applications approached 1.2 million. This is a 6% increase compared to the previous year, when the number was almost 1.1 million. Men made up 59.8% of this group, with women accounting for 40.2%. In terms of nationality, Ukrainians were the dominant group, with 771.2 thousand individuals. The year-on-year growth was 3%. This is according to the latest data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).
As reported by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), the number of people who reported a nationality other than Polish in their retirement and disability insurance applications was nearly 1.2 million. This figure was noted as of June 30th this year, marking a 6% annual increase. In 2023, there were 1.1 million foreigners. Simultaneously, the data indicates that men (693.3 thousand) currently make up 59.8% of this group, with women (466.7 thousand) making up 40.2%. This was a considerable change from the previous year when there were 40.6% men (443.7 thousand) and 59.4% women (650.4 thousand).
– The pandemic has made foreigners working under the table realize the need for health insurance, and this awareness continues. Demand for labor is rising and will continue to grow due to demographic indicators – said attorney Joanna Torbé-Jacko, an expert of the Business Centre Club for labor law and social insurance, and chairwoman of the Commission for Migration Policy.
Meanwhile, Dr. hab. Magdalena Knapińska from the University of Economics in Poznań noted that the increase in the number of applications for retirement and disability insurance may be due not only to an influx of immigrants but also to changes in the nature of work contracts. Increasingly, immigrants are transitioning from contracts for specific tasks to employment contracts. Lawyer Adrian Parol shares this opinion, adding that, for some time now, it has been observed that employers themselves are “enforcing” or – as others would have it – rigidly proposing a change in the form of employment to establish a stronger bond with the employee.
– At the same time, we are dealing with the uptake of legal employment instead of working under the table – the expert from the University of Economics in Poznań points out. – However, the figure of slightly over 1.1 million people still only accounts for approximately 6.25% of everyone working in Poland. This is not a high and alarming indicator – admits Dr hab. Magdalena Knapińska.
Joanna Torbé-Jacko also notes that, although the number of insured foreigners is increasing, it is difficult to deem this a success. The data shown by ZUS does not indicate good news, as many of those employed with a nationality other than Polish are only enrolled in insurance to gain the right to benefits from underestimated bases.
– We need multifaceted actions from the ministry of labor in the field of social insurance, which are currently lacking. Companies legally employing foreigners and insuring them at full income are being destroyed by those firms lowering insurance. And they are all optimistically shown in the same statistics – emphasizes the BCC expert.
In addition, attorney Adrian Parol points out that the largest group insured, who in their retirement and disability insurance applications indicated nationality other than Polish, are people with Ukrainian passports. This is not a great surprise. According to the figures as of June 30, 2024, there were 771.2 thousand of them, a 3% increase from the previous year, when the number was 748.4 thousand.
– In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the number of refugees is steadily increasing, although of course, it is not as significant as in the year the war started. Media reports on Ukrainians leaving Poland have been appearing in the media for some time, but they have so far not been reflected in reality – says Andrzej Drozd from the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.
The expert also points out that Ukrainians choose Poland due to its proximity to their home country. Additionally, the similarity of language and bonds connecting our countries mean that, despite relatively higher salaries in other countries, Poland remains an attractive place for Ukrainian citizens. Our migration policy also matters. Meanwhile, attorney Adrian Parol adds that Ukrainians feel particularly safe in our country, as emphasized repetitively by politicians themselves. It is primarily about the general narrative towards Ukraine in Poland. Therefore, this atmosphere is a crucial and persuasive aspect for them.
– This could also likely be the effect of the legalization of the employment of Ukrainians, who nonetheless decide to stay in the Polish labor market slightly longer and undertake their jobs based on an employment contract. They are slightly more permanently linked to our job market. The end of the war appears quite distant, so they simply commit to employment for a longer period – comments Dr. hab. Magdalena Knapińska.
At the same time, the expert from the University of Economics in Poznań acknowledges that immigration and emigration between Poland and Ukraine are increasing. Large, dynamic pendular movements of the Ukrainian population are observed. They are promoted by the tightening of departure regulations for men and physicians from Ukraine, which encourages them to take up permanent work in Poland.
– We should also remember about the relatively high number of citizens from Belarus and third countries, whose recruitment has already become a permanent trend in the Polish labor market. Given the deficit in so-called “male professions”, recruitment from third countries mainly involves men – says Andrzej Drozd.
Indeed, within the group of individuals with Ukrainian nationality, 52.2% are men and 47.8% are women. The situation was similar the previous year, with men accounting for 52.3% and women 47.7%. Therefore, the differences are essentially minimal, despite the observed change in the structure of people coming to Poland from Ukraine.
– This is a gender structure similar to the situation in the entire society. It’s clear that these are people of very different ages. As of February 2022, women and children were dominant in the immigration from Ukraine. But also, with the tightening of draft laws, perhaps a portion of Ukrainian men want to avoid conscription to the army through this route – observes Dr. hab. Magdalena Knapińska.
In addition, Andrzej Drozd points out that a large percentage of women can be explained by the fact that the main wave of refugees from Ukraine in 2022 was made up of women with children, who then gradually began engaging in professional activities. Meanwhile, some men left Poland after 2022 to defend their homeland, although some remained. In addition, experts note that the situation is still far from ideal.
– There are many irregularities, primarily employment in various Ukrainian companies and only partial income coverage by insurance or using the so-called simple joint-stock company. This is only aimed at obtaining health insurance, and foreigners are enrolled in it, but from very low amounts, or they are not enrolled at all – explains Joanna Torbé-Jacko.
Commentators, however, expect an increase in foreigners’ applications to ZUS, which in the opinion of Dr hab. Magdalena Knapińska, will be the result of seasonal fluctuations in labor demand. The difficult war situation in Ukraine may cause a further influx of immigrants. We cannot forget about the attempts to combine the payment of certain benefits (800 plus, etc.) with parents’ and guardians’ gainful employment, which should be provided in Poland, which may also increase the level of migration.
– In the further periods, the number of people who apply for retirement and disability insurance and report a nationality other than Polish should increase slightly. We should also take into account the fact that foreigners usually return to the job market from seasonal work, where they are not always insured – notes the expert from the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.
Andrzej Drozd also emphasizes that this will occur if there is not an escalation of war actions in Ukraine and subsequent migration waves from this country. The Polish economy still shows a demand for foreign workers, especially in sectors such as construction, logistics, and services, which often employ foreigners.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/pracujacy-w-polsce-cudzoziemcy-coraz-chetniej-rejestruja-sie-w-zus-glownie-chodzi-o-ukraincow-41606
