When it comes to immigration to Europe, many people want to move to Germany or France. There is the highest standard of living and the highest salaries. However, these countries have high competition in the labor market and, moreover, harsh conditions for labor migration. Learning about this, many give up, believing that moving to a prosperous European country is an unattainable dream. But this is not at all the case - the EU countries are developing successfully, and the need for professionals who are able to work, in particular, in factory production, is constantly growing. Poland is the undoubted leader in this regard. Working in factories in Poland is distinguished by comfortable working conditions and competitive wages, and also has a number of advantages that are appreciated by migrants.
Labor market and peculiarities of employment in factories in Poland
The first vacancies for foreigners in Poland appeared in the field of agriculture. It was about seasonal harvesting work. This work was often illegal. At the same time, it was not possible to get a job at a factory or plant - at that time they were staffed with local labor.
As Poland moved towards integration with the EU, new production facilities began to appear in the country - European manufacturers began to transfer their production to the Republic of Poland (RP) due to the relatively inexpensive labor force, therefore, get a job, for example, at an automobile plant , was not difficult.
Companies from different regions of the world are interested in building new production facilities on Polish territory, since products manufactured within the EU are not subject to import duties and can be sold throughout its territory.
It was these considerations that guided the concerns for the production of household appliances Samsung and LG, which built their factories in Poland.
Currently, Polish products are successfully exported not only to the EU countries, but also beyond its borders. We know it, in particular, from the sweets produced by the Ferrero chocolate factory.
Nevertheless, integration into the EU brought Poland not only advantages, but also certain problems. Along with full citizenship of the European Union, Poles received the right to live and work anywhere. This has resulted in an active migration of the local population to Western European countries, which can offer higher salaries. For example, Poles who worked in a pasta factory moved to work at similar enterprises in Italy or Germany.
It must be said that Western European employers give preference to workers from Eastern Europe over refugees from Africa and Asia, who are quite difficult to adapt and do not really want to work, despite the fact that there are vacancies for them. In addition, many refugees lack qualifications, and some simply prefer to live on benefits, which are often higher than wages for unskilled labor.
For immigrants from the CIS countries, working in Poland has a number of advantages:
- high profit payment;
- the possibility of legal employment. The shortage of personnel prompts the Polish government to simplify the process of attracting foreign labor as much as possible. Official employment allows you to legalize a long stay in the EU and ultimately count on obtaining European citizenship. Of course, first of all, representatives of working specialties are required (for example, you can work at coffee factories) - this will allow you to legalize faster, and over time to do the work that you prefer;
- taking care of employees. This is not to say that employers really want to take care of their workers, but by law they are forced to do it. Therefore, employees are required to be provided with overalls and protective equipment, and their work, including overtime, is paid in full. In addition, they are covered by all social guarantees;
- workers are often provided with free or low-cost housing. Basically, these are dormitories located near the enterprise, which allows the employee to easily get to the place of work. For people who find themselves in a foreign state, this is a serious help;
- the cost of food in Poland is much lower than in most European countries, including Ukraine. This allows you to save money and not spend a lot of money on food;
- obtaining skills to work in modern production. Factories in Poland are mostly new or reconstructed; the percentage of production automation at them is very high. Work, for example, at a pillow factory, is significantly different from similar work in the CIS countries. True, similar factories have recently appeared in our country. Naturally, they need trained personnel, so those who plan to return to their homeland will definitely be in demand;
- the language factor is also important. Almost everyone in the CIS knows Russian. Polish also belongs to the Slavic group, so it is much easier to master it at a level sufficient for work, for example, in a cardboard factory, than German, French or Dutch. However, in Poland there are quite a few companies that employ mainly migrants from the CIS, so communication takes place in Russian.
Job search at a factory: what vacancies are offered and at which enterprises
Plants and factories are usually built near major cities such as Warsaw or Gdansk. Therefore, vacancies can be searched on the classifieds sites of the region you are interested in. Many find work with the help of acquaintances who went to work in Poland earlier. You can also browse the websites of Polish representative offices of large international companies - they usually contain entire sections about available vacancies.
Employment always requires a certain investment of time and effort from the applicant, but there is nothing impossible in finding a job in Poland on your own.
If you want to speed up the job search process, you can contact specialized agencies for employment abroad.
Vacancies are offered in a variety of ways. As elsewhere in the world, highly qualified specialists in their field are very much needed, but there is work and not only for them. The food industry is successfully operating in Poland - it means the processing of various food raw materials and the production of products with high added value.
Work in meat processing plants is often offered. Moreover, not only deboners are required, but also various technical workers for the repair and maintenance of production lines, as well as logisticians and specialists from supply and sales departments, and service personnel.
At a fish factory in Poland, an applicant will not be required even a minimum of work experience, since training is required before being admitted to the workplace. Such factories are engaged in freezing and defrosting fish, making canned food and preserves from it, and packaging finished products. All this must be done in accordance with modern requirements, which is why Poles believe that any employee should be trained.
There are quite a few vacancies in coffee factories, which require technologists, technicians and low-skilled personnel: cleaners, handymen, loaders.
Mechanical engineering is well developed in Poland. Therefore, if you are a welder, turner, locksmith or a representative of similar specialties, you can find yourself a job at an automobile or shipyard. Other areas of mechanical engineering are also developed in the country. Moreover, many enterprises, in addition to workers, also require technicians and qualified engineers.
True, diplomas of higher education received in the USSR or the CIS require nostrification - passing a special procedure for their recognition in Poland.
There is work in the country for doctors and medical personnel, as well as for computer specialists. In general, there is a lot of work in Poland, and if you wish, you can choose a vacancy for yourself according to your specialty and your liking. So prepare your resume and start your search. If you are unable to cope on your own, experts will come to your aid.
Websites and employment agencies in Poland
If you select a vacancy yourself, then most of the job offers are published on Polish job search sites. We offer you links to the most famous of them:
- Jooble
- Pracuj
- Praca
- Infopraca
- Gumtree
- Adzuna
- Neuvoo
- Praca Dla Ukrainy
- Jobs.
Moreover, it is more convenient for Russians to search for vacancies on the Russian website Headhunter, and for Ukrainians - on the websites of Eurabota, Rabota and Work.
Quite often, an independent job search is fraught with significant difficulties. In this case, it makes sense to seek help from one of the recruiting agencies using the database of Polish recruiting agencies.
Of course, you will have to pay for the services of an intermediary, but assistance in finding a job and organizing travel abroad is worth it. The conditions for all agencies are different, and you can choose for yourself the one that suits you for the price.
To obtain information about potential employers in Poland, as well as to check the vacancies offered by the agencies, you should use the register of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) of Poland.
What documents are required for employment in Poland
For legal employment in the Republic of Poland, you will need a national work visa. To obtain this permit at the Polish diplomatic mission in your country, you need to submit the following documents:
- completed visa application form;
- two photographs 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
- foreign passport and its photocopy;
- internal passport and its photocopy;
- medical insurance policy;
- originals and copies of a public promise of employment and a statement of intent to entrust work to a foreigner from the inviting party. The invitation from the employer must be registered with the county labor office.
For legal employment in Poland, an employee must conclude an employment agreement (contract) with the employer.
In the Republic of Poland, there are several types of employment contracts, each of which clearly regulates the rights and obligations of the employee. If you do not speak Polish at a sufficient level, the employer is obliged to provide you with a translation of the document in an understandable language.
Features of employment with a biometric passport
Not so long ago, Ukrainians got the opportunity to travel to Europe without a visa. This greatly simplified the procedure for employment in Poland, although it does not give the right to long-term legal work in this country. Since a national work visa is no longer a prerequisite, Ukrainians who want to work in Poland must obtain a so-called oświadczenie - a declaration of intent to employ a foreigner, or a traditional work permit.
In order for a citizen of Ukraine to receive an oświadczenie, a Polish employer must fill out a declaration with his and his data and register this document with the local labor office.
As you know, many employers, including Polish ones, wanting to reduce costs, often hire workers without signing labor contracts with them. Such work is considered illegal, since none of the parties pays taxes, and threatens the employee with unpleasant consequences: a monetary fine in the amount of PLN 1,000 to 5,000, deportation and a ban on entry to Poland and other EU countries for a period of six months to 3 years ...
Requirements for employees, working and living conditions
Depending on the position you are applying for, the requirements for your experience and knowledge change. There is a lot of work in Poland for unskilled and novice workers. Accordingly, the requirements for them are minimal, and sometimes even absent. The main thing is that a person should be able to work and study.
Working conditions in Poland correspond to our ideas about working in Europe: high-quality equipment and overalls, standardized working hours and extra payments for overtime work. A place to stay is often offered along with work. The conditions in such hostels are not very luxurious, but quite acceptable for a person who has come to work.
Salary level
Salaries in Poland are much higher than in the Russian hinterland or the CIS countries. The minimum wage is PLN 13.7 (EUR 3.29) per hour. In general, the minimum wage is 2,100 zlotys (503.72 euros) per month. The average salary is PLN 4,353 (EUR 1,035).
The average salary depends on the region of the country in which you intend to work. The highest average salaries are in Warsaw - PLN 5,600 (EUR 1,330), Gdansk PLN 4,720 (EUR 1,125) and Katowice - PLN 4,700 (EUR 1,120).
The lowest are in Bialystok - PLN 3,790 (EUR 900), Rzeszow - PLN 3,760 (EUR 895) and Olsztyn - PLN 3,630 (EUR 865).
Cost of living in Poland
Along with rather high salaries in Poland, there are very reasonable prices, which make it possible to live decently on the available income.
Polish prices for some basic goods, services and foodstuffs:
| Product / Service | Cost of PLN (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Using public transport | 1,7-7 (0,41-1,68) |
| Gasoline for 1 liter | 5,3-5,7 (1,27-1,37) |
| Bread for 1 loaf | 3 (0,72) |
| Milk for 1 liter | 5 (1,2) |
| Potatoes for 1 kg | 0,6 (0,14) |
| Pork (neck) per 1 kg | 20 (4,8) |
| Vegetable oil for 1 liter | 5 (1,2) |
| Juice for 1 liter | 4 (0,96) |
| Utilities per month | 250-400 (60-96) |
Finally
Working in Poland in factories and factories is a great opportunity to live and work in Europe. The Republic of Poland is interested in the influx of labor, therefore, the conditions for obtaining a job here are among the mildest in the EU.
Legal work allows you to stay in the country legally, and in the future to issue its citizenship. If you do not want to leave your homeland forever, employment in Poland will provide an opportunity for decent earnings for personal and family needs.
