Finding a job in a European country is a daunting task for migrant workers, but Europe welcomes thousands of foreign workers every year. Recently, job seekers are more likely to look towards Poland - legal employment in this country promises decent wages, the possibility of obtaining a residence permit and free medical care for the whole family. In addition, Poland is close to the post-Soviet space of the EU countries in terms of geography and mentality, and therefore it will be easier for a migrant to adapt in a foreign country. Working in Poland guarantees economically and socially beneficial conditions.
What are the advantages of being employed in Poland
Despite the fact that Poland is somewhat behind the most developed countries of the European Union in terms of living standards, it is largely ahead of the countries of the former USSR in its development. If we rely on economic indicators, the Polish GDP is currently the sixth in Europe.
The positive dynamics of economic growth rates persists, even despite the global crisis. The foreign trade turnover is steadily growing in the country.
For further development, the country needs a labor force, and therefore the Polish employer offers labor migrants very comfortable working conditions and competitive wages.
Among the main advantages of working in Poland are the following:
- Strict labor laws. Labor migrants are offered formal employment, and with it - decent conditions of social security. The Labor Code equalizes the rights of foreign and Polish workers.
- Loyal attitude of Polish employers towards foreign labor. Unlike employers from most other European countries, in Poland, business leaders do not treat people from CIS countries as second-class people.
- Simple procedure for obtaining a work visa. In comparison with other European states, Poland does not burden the residents of the CIS countries with unnecessary bureaucratic moments and issues visas for employment through its representative offices without any problems.
- A wide range of vacancies in any area of the economy. After the country's accession to the European Union, a significant part of the population went to work in the more developed countries of Western Europe. In addition, Poland is at the stage of all-round development, and therefore at the moment a job can be selected not only according to abilities, but also according to preferences.
- Availability of employment opportunities for employees with different skill levels: both representatives of in-demand professions and seasonal workers will find jobs.
- Territorial proximity to the CIS countries. When employed for a long time, migrants will have the opportunity to travel home.
- Timely wages. Salaries at Polish enterprises are not delayed, while in the CIS countries this practice has ceased to be a rarity.
- A large number of labor migrants, especially from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The proximity of compatriots allows you to share information about working conditions and vacancies in local companies.
- The ability to carry out full-fledged immigration. Having legally got a job in Poland, in the future, you can issue a residence permit for all family members, and later - get a Polish passport.
As with moving to other European countries, labor migrants will have to learn Polish for better integration into society and obtaining citizenship. And here we can talk about an additional plus - the study of the state language of Poland for immigrants from the CIS countries will seem easier than, for example, mastering the Danish language. Many words are intuitively understandable.
Ways to find a job in Poland
You can find a suitable vacancy and get a job with a Polish employer either independently, without intermediaries, or through third-party companies that provide assistance in finding a job abroad. There are a lot of firms offering employment in European countries (European work), including Poland, at the moment, but if the applicant would like to save money, or he does not have confidence in organizations of this kind, you can use the traditional ways of finding a job.
- Job search options for applicants who are in the country of permanent residence:
- Ask for advice from relatives and friends who have already been to work in Poland. Residents of the CIS countries, as a rule, seek to get a job abroad due to low salaries and a lack of jobs in their home country, and therefore it is not difficult to find a person who is ready to share experience.
- Search information on social networks. Now you can easily find a stranger who got a job abroad, or a group dedicated to the issue of employment in Poland. Direct employers can be found on specialized resources, for example, LinkedIn or GoldenLine.
- Visit online portals that specialize in the selection of vacancies for employment in Poland. On these sites, you can make calls and sign up for Skype interviews.
- Get information about vacancies through the EURES information service.
2. Options for finding vacancies for labor migrants in Poland:- Contact the Polish employment service by visiting the official website of the labor exchange.
- Go to the job fair, which are held in many cities of Poland several times a year, and where you can talk about the terms of cooperation directly with the employer.
- View advertisements in local employment newspapers. You can regularly check new vacancies from employers, as well as post your own resume.
- Use the services of an employment agency.
- Visit personnel departments of Polish companies on your own and ask about vacancies.
Finally, if it was not possible to find a job in Poland on your own, you can always find a recruiting agency that will be able to inspire confidence and will not ask for too much payment for a selection of vacancies.
Websites and companies for employment in Poland
The methods of looking for work with Polish employers depend on where the applicant is located - in his home country or already in Poland.
Job search through an intermediary firm
It is easier to look for a job when the applicant is already in Poland - this way there will be more options for finding employers. And when you are in the country of permanent residence, it makes sense to contact intermediaries. Their services are priced differently, the cost can be up to 150 euros.
However, intermediary firms act quickly, they are legally savvy, you do not need to know Polish to communicate with them, and they can help in drawing up a competent resume. In addition, an intermediary will conduct all negotiations with the employer, so this is ideal for applicants who do not speak the language.
Job search on the Internet
There are many platforms on the Internet with the help of which you can find a suitable vacancy for employment in Poland. The most famous are the following resources:
| Site | Short description |
|---|---|
| Praca.pl | The home page of the site conveniently displays the latest posted jobs and the most viewed "jobs of the week". You can search for vacancies by keyword, position, city and company. The site regularly publishes news from Poland. There is an option to choose a language - Polish or English. |
| Pracuj.pl | An easy-to-use site, which offers to search for a suitable job according to several criteria: keyword, position, company. You can select your preferred city and region of Poland. The main page contains information about the offers of the day. |
| Praca.gratka.pl | Notice board, which also includes a section on work.To search, you will need to indicate what kind of vacancy you are looking for (seasonal work, permanent, contract, etc.), which specialty you have. |
| Infopraca.pl | For the convenience of searching for vacancies on the site there are sections "Work by industry", "Most often searched", "Work by city". At the bottom of the home page, there are guidelines for writing a resume and cover letter, for interviewing, and for communicating with an employer. |
| Gazetapraca.pl | In addition to the standard search menu, the site has a tab "Profiles of employers", by clicking on which you can get acquainted with information about employers who posted vacancies. The site also publishes articles on the topic of employment. |
| Praca-tymczasowa.pl | A simple site without unnecessary information. To search the database of vacancies, you need to write what kind of work you are interested in, and in which region you would like to go. |
| Monsterpolska.pl | On the site, you can find a vacancy by region of interest, employment, popular user requests, popular companies. It is also possible to post a resume and view employer profiles. |
| Gumtree.pl | Notice board, which also has a section dedicated to finding a job. The main page contains only lists of keywords for job search. |
| Ogloszenia.ngo.pl | Portal, in the "Announcements" section of which you can find current vacancies, offers of internships and participation in volunteering. You can post a job search ad for 7 days free of charge. |
| Jobs.pl | A site that can be viewed in Polish, English and German. Here are the vacancies opened by Polish employers and outside Poland. |
| Olx.pl (section "Praca") | Global bulletin board, one of the sections of which is devoted to finding a job. Vacancies are grouped by field of activity. |
Job search through an employment agency
Employment agencies will help you quickly find the right employer. Official intermediaries are registered in the register of the Central Statistical Office (Główny Urząd Statystyczny - GUS) and provide their services free of charge (paid by the employer).
The information published on the official website of the Registry is available for free use, so you can always check the presence in the database of the agency with which the applicant plans to cooperate.
Most often, labor migrants apply to the following agencies:
| Agency name | Address | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| OTTO Work Force | Siedziba główna (Head office) ul. Szwedzka 5 55-040 Kobierzyce | Phone: +48 71 3394673 Email: [email protected] |
| Randstad | randstad Warszawa Al. Jerozolimskie 134 02-305 Warszawa | Phone: +48 22 274 10 00 Fax: +48 22 274 10 01 Email: [email protected] |
| InterKadra | Centrala (Head Office) InterKadra Sp. z o.o. ul. Wielicka 50 30-552 Kraków NIP: 6762336026 | Phone: 12 290 22 44 Fax: 12 444 18 47 Email: [email protected] |
| EastWestLink (ewl) | ul. Aleje Jerozolimskie 144, III piętro 02-305 Warszawa, Polska | Phone: +48 22 428 27 86 Phone / fax: +48 22 823 13 64 Email: [email protected] |
Job search through the Employment Center
For Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and citizens of other CIS countries already living in Poland, there is an opportunity to register at the labor exchange. In this way, you can formalize the status of unemployed and receive regular notifications about new suitable vacancies posted by local employers.
Job search through Polish newspapers
Free vacancies from direct employers are published in periodicals of Polish newspapers. This method is good in that the applicant has the opportunity not only to view the offered vacancies, but also to place his own ad in the newspaper, indicating in it wishes for work, specialty and contact information. It is better to ask a native speaker to write the ad text.
There is also a minus - a whole week will pass from the moment the announcement is submitted to its publication. And urgent ads come at a high cost.
The most popular publications are:
- “Oferta” (weekly newspaper with advertisements, including job advertisements);
- “GazetaWyborcza” (published on Mondays);
- “Praca” (supplement to the newspaper “Gazeta Wyborcza”, published together with the main publication).
Job search by personal contact with the company
If the applicant has found a company that suits his profile, he can contact the HR department. If at the time of contacting the staff, the HR officer will accept the resume, register the applicant in the firm's database and contact the candidate if a job becomes available.
If the resume is handed over to the manager's secretary, you need to ask to sign the receipt of the papers. Polish employers give preference to proactive employees, so contacting the company directly often brings results. Personal contact, and preferably with a manager, is better than sending a resume and waiting for a response.
What documents are required for official employment in Poland
To present your candidacy to Polish employers and receive a response to the job search application posted by the applicant, you need to prepare:
- CV (Curriculum Vitae) in English or Polish (preferably), indicating education, specialty, special skills, previous jobs, awards, level of proficiency in Polish and other foreign languages;
- a free-form motivation letter (an appeal to a future employer with an explanation of why the applicant is a suitable candidate for a vacancy);
- work book with records of previous jobs in order to confirm work experience (preferably).
Before a foreign citizen can go to work in Poland, the employer must issue a work permit for him from the voivode (head of local government) - zezwolenie on práce.
To do this, the employer applies to the county office and submits a statement of intent to hire a foreigner (Oświadczeniе about zamiarze powierzenia pracy cudzoziemcowi), after which he receives permission from the voivode to hire an employee.
The following table will help you have an idea of the types of permits for legal work in Poland:
| Permission type | Field of activity | Validity | Citizens of which countries can be issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permission from the governor | Work in the specialty (for applicants with a certain qualification) for employment with a specific employer. | 1 calendar year | Any country |
| Short-term work permit | Short term work that does not meet seasonal criteria. Employers who registered their activities at least a year before applying for a document can apply for such a permit. | No more than 6 months | Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia |
| Seasonal work permit | Travel agencies, agricultural sector | No more than 8 months | Any CIS country |
One of the most important documents for employment in Poland is the Polish work visa. This is a type D national visa issued for a period of more than 90 days, but no more than 365 days.
The D05 type of national visa entitles you to work in Poland for 180 days a year, and the D06 type - to work throughout the year. A national visa gives the right to:
- stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland during the validity period of the document;
- move around the territory of the Schengen countries (no more than 90 days within 180 days).
A work visa is issued on the basis of an invitation from the employer and is also ordered by the employer.
But you can get a visa yourself - for this you need to prepare the following papers (in the original with photocopies):
- Visa application form.
- Two photographs of the established sample.
- An invitation to work from an employer (for a visa for a period of 1 year) or an application-order (Urzędzie Pracy) from the Labor Office (for a visa for up to six months).
- General passport.
- A foreign passport with a sufficient validity period for the trip.
- Medical insurance.
- 35 euros to pay the visa fee (in cash).
The visa application will be considered within 5 calendar days from the date of its submission. In urgent cases, the period for studying the application is reduced to three or less days, depending on the date of the planned trip. In special cases, the waiting period is extended up to 30 days, and in case of lack of any documents - up to 60 days.
To find a job, a short-term C05 Schengen work visa is also suitable, with which you can work in the country for no more than 90 days within six months.
In addition, in order to attract highly qualified personnel, Poland issues a Blue card, which confirms both a residence permit and the right to work in the country and in the Schengen area.
The procedure for employment in Poland with the Pole Card (praca w Polsce z Kartą Polaka) is greatly simplified, therefore it is beneficial to get it before looking for vacancies. But such a document can only be obtained by persons who have proven their Polish roots and have successfully passed the test of knowledge of the Polish language and history.
Having a Pole Card allows you to choose from a large number of job offers and lets your future employer know that:
- The applicant speaks Polish (getting the Pole Card is possible only if he speaks Polish at a sufficiently good level to communicate without problems at work).
- You don't have to apply for a work permit in Poland - The Pole's card itself is a permit for official employment in any city in Poland.
- The applicant has issued a long-term visa: the holder of the Pole's Card is issued a Polish visa for a period of 1 year without the need to receive an invitation from the employer and leave the country every few months to renew the entry document.
Finally, registration for a job ends with the signing of an employment contract with the employer already upon arrival in Poland.
You should pay attention to what kind of contract is concluded. There are several options:
- employment contract - umowa o prace (maybe “na czas nieokreślony” - for an unlimited period and “na czas określony” - for a certain period);
- work contract - umowa o dzieło (agreement on the performance of a specific task, which implies the receipt of a certain result);
- a commission agreement - umowa zlecenie (umowa zlecenie is the most popular type of agreement for a specific period, for the performance of work under which a work permit may not be issued for six months).
After concluding a contract with an employer, he must register the foreign worker as a tax payer and issue a compulsory social insurance policy for him.
If all these conditions are met, the employment of a foreigner in Poland is considered official - it remains only to comply with the terms of stay in the country, limited by the validity of the visa.
Work in Poland with a biometric passport for Ukrainian citizens
Since a visa-free regime was introduced between the European Union and Ukraine, Ukrainians can relax, go shopping and go to meetings with business partners without first applying for a Schengen visa - now it is enough for them to present a biometric passport at the border.
On a visa-free basis, it is also allowed to get a job with Polish employers. The only condition is adherence to the developed employment procedure and the availability of the necessary documents.
In particular, the following rules must be observed:
- A labor migrant must have a statement from the employer about the intention to take a foreign citizen to work, which would spell out all the working conditions, terms of work, the amount of salary. Instead of such a document, it is allowed to have a work permit with you.
- If a Ukrainian first came to Poland on a visa-free basis, without a work permit, and took a vacancy while in the country, the employer is obliged to apply to the county offices and register a statement of intent to hire a foreigner. You can also issue a work permit for a foreign worker.
- Upon arrival at the place of work, a foreign worker must sign an employment contract or a civil law contract with the employer. The latter is strictly in cases determined by law and guarantees the employee fewer rights than an employment agreement.
- The employer is obliged to apply to the Social Security Administration (ZUS) to apply for the insurance of the employee and to pay contributions from his income.
- If a foreign worker is transferred to another employer, that employer must also register a declaration of intent to hire an employee with the county offices.
It is allowed to work in Poland without a work visa with a biometric passport for no more than 90 days within 180 days, otherwise the offender faces a fine and expulsion from the country for a period of six months to 3 years.
To work for a longer time, you will have to apply for a long-term work visa or obtain a residence permit, which can also be done on the basis of a biometric passport.
Taking into account the current situation in Ukraine, moving to Poland for employment on the basis of a biometric passport becomes a real salvation for citizens who have lost their jobs and for refugees from Donbass. The latter, according to the law, do not even need a work permit.
What professions are in demand in Poland
Poland is in dire need of working hands. The country lacks personnel due to the continuing trend of the outflow of Polish specialists to more prosperous Western European countries.
To date, 3 areas have been formed, within which the need for workers has been increasing annually for 10 years:
- agriculture: farms do not have enough tractor drivers, combine operators, mechanics for the repair of equipment, pickers of fruits, vegetables and berries;
- construction of residential buildings and industrial facilities;
- manufacturing enterprises (for the production of furniture, for the food industry).
Employers in these areas of activity are ready to hire labor migrants from the CIS countries in teams or separately. The companies are in dire need of specialists specializing in:
- the provision of medical services. You can get a job not only as a doctor - in Poland, personnel of all levels of training are required;
- service sector (hotel, restaurant business);
- software development and provision of services in the field of information technology (high demand for programmers, system administrators, information security specialists);
- social sphere.
You can quickly get a job in the following demanded professions:
- driver (it is easier to get a job as a driver of heavy freight transport, public transport), truck driver;
- plasterer, as well as finishers of other specialties;
- welder: there is an opportunity to get a job in Polish-Norwegian companies, where the salary is much higher than the average.
If you choose among offers that involve unskilled labor, there will always be jobs for women as a waitress, maid, cleaner, tour guide. Babysitters with good knowledge of the Polish language and nurses with a medical education are in demand.
A vacancy can be found even for a pensioner: for example, the salary of a fruit picker depends on the number of fruits harvested, and no one will be forced to work hard.
The easiest way to get a seasonal job in Poland, especially for men. But there are a lot of those who want to find a job among foreign citizens, since this is a chance of employment for married couples, and often the spouses have come for several years.
If you decide to go to Poland for the season, it is better to worry about obtaining a work visa in advance, because with the onset of the season, the consulates and embassies will be overloaded.
It should be borne in mind that the chances of finding a job are significantly increased for those who speak Polish. Such employees are valued the most, and if you have to choose between a Polish-speaking employee and a migrant who arrives in the country without knowing the language, the first will get a job.
Salary level in Poland: minimum, average monthly
Salaries in Poland are not high from the point of view of residents of the EU countries. For example, in Germany, wages are 4 times higher than Polish wages.
According to forecasts, wages in Poland will reach the European average only by 2030.However, when compared with the level of earnings of the population of the CIS countries, salaries at Polish enterprises are decent.
Before talking about the size of wages, you should understand the concept of "gross wages" and "net wages". In the first case, we mean the amount of remuneration before taxes, in the second, respectively, after deducting taxes.
The following deductions are made from wages:
- social insurance contributions (Zaklad Ubezpieczen Spolecznych - ZUS);
- payments to the national health fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia - NFZ);
- income tax.
The minimum average monthly wage in Poland is PLN 2,100 gross (EUR 504), and the minimum hourly wage is PLN 13.7 gross (EUR 3.3).
After taxes, the amounts will be 1532 zlotys (368 euros) per month and 2.4 zlotys (0.6 euros) per hour.
According to the data released by the General Statistical Office of Poland, the average monthly salary for 2021 was PLN 4,530.47 (EUR 1,087) gross, PLN 3304.97 (EUR 793) net. However, it should be borne in mind that the income of foreign citizens will depend on the sphere of employment and the region (voivodship) of employment.
The highest salaries are observed in the following voivodeships:
- Mazowieckie (Warsaw) - 5453 zlotys (1308 euros);
- Pomeranian (Gdansk, Gdynia) - 4442 zlotys (1066 euros);
- Silesian (Katowice, Czestochowa) - 4343 zlotys (1042 euros).
This is how the salary rating looks like, depending on the area of employment of the employee:
| Profession | Average salary (PLN / EUR) |
|---|---|
| Programmers, specialists in other areas of the IT sphere | 7825 / 1878 |
| Builders | 3000-4000 / 720-960 |
| Truckers | 3500 / 840 |
| Bricklayers | 3000 / 720 |
| Drivers (buses, trucks) | 2800 / 672 |
| Joiners | 2800 / 672 |
| Cooks | 2700 / 648 |
| Cashiers | 2500 / 600 |
| Electricians | 2500 / 600 |
| Locksmith | 2400 / 576 |
| Seamstresses | 2200 / 528 |
| Teachers | 2000 / 480 |
| Sellers | 1800-3000 / 432-720 |
| Hairdressers | 1800 / 432 |
| Cleaning ladies | 1600-2000 / 384-480 |
| Makeup artists | 1500 / 360 |
Compared to last year, the minimum wage has increased, but the authorities have equalized earnings for performing work duties on weekdays and weekends. For work at night (from 22 to 7 o'clock), a surcharge of 20% is required. These norms apply to Polish and foreign employees.
In which cities of Poland is it better to get a job
The availability of certain vacancies in a particular city in Poland will depend on the main industry of the voivodeship (region) and small and large enterprises located on its territory. In this regard, the most profitable is work in large cities of Poland.
In the capital and other large settlements, foreign companies are also opening branches, ready to employ citizens of the CIS countries. The advantage of employment in such a company will be the opportunity to work with knowledge of the English language. The level of salaries in large cities is higher, but the cost of goods and services is much higher here.
The undeniable advantage of large cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan and Szczecin is the record number of open vacancies for highly qualified specialists and unskilled labor.
The holiday regions are ideal for those seeking seasonal employment.
For the sake of employment in industrial enterprises, it is better to go to Gdansk and Lodz - many factories are located in these cities and nearby villages.
It makes sense to travel to other regions of Poland only if the foreigner knows in advance which company he wants to work at.
Living in small towns is cheaper - from the cost of housing to the prices of essential goods. But it is difficult to find work in them: you will have to look for good vacancies six months before arrival.
Conclusion
There is a lot of work in Poland - this situation is explained by the relocation of Poles to more prosperous European countries and a small, in comparison with neighboring EU states, wages. Employers welcome visiting employees, especially formed teams. The government also makes all sorts of concessions in order to attract foreign labor: it easily issues work visas, provides official employment, provides social guarantees and allows all family members of a worker to obtain a residence permit.
Often, the need to deprive themselves of a third of their salary after taxes makes foreign workers get jobs without official registration and risk being fined and even deported from the country.
If the purpose of employment is labor immigration, illegal work is out of the question: those who violate labor laws and the visa regime are deprived of the right to obtain a residence permit and obtain Polish citizenship.
