Econ. Ministry pressured to grant German construction worker quotas early

The Economy Ministry has released the quotas for Polish construction workers employed in Germany two months ahead of time. The Minister has just submitted its employment projections to Germany for the 2000-2001 season due to pressure from companies allowing them more time to acquire contracts. The Ministry estimates 22,600 Poles will work in Germany. Budimex S.A. was allotted the most followed by Polservice and Polbau and the total number of companies will be over 500. Ministry director Jaroslaw Maka said companies that have already established some contacts in Germany were given preference. Julian Korman from Society of Polish Service Companies in Germany (VdPD) said Poles use only 84% of limits, which means that Polish companies lose hundreds of million of Deutschemarks. VdPD blames mostly German officials who block Polish companies. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 1, 19)