Fewer work permits for Asians in H1 2020

In the first half of 2020, almost 32,000 work permits for Asians were issued, e.g. 6 percent less than in the same period a year ago. This is the first decline in five years, according to data from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy. During this period, the biggest number of permits was issued to Georgians (4,200), Indians (4,100) and Uzbeks (3,800). In total, citizens of 39 Asian countries applied for a work permit in Poland. Personnel Service experts point out that the number of work permits for Asians has not decreased as much as in the case of Ukrainians (11 percent less). However, in both cases, the main reason for the declines was the Covid-19 epidemic.

“So far we have dealt with an upward trend. In the whole of 2019, as much as 18 percent more work permits for Asians were issued than in the previous year. This time, for the first time in many years, this trend has reversed, mainly due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which caused, among others, temporary closure of borders. It seems, however, that Asians will still be willing to look for a job in the Polish market, so we expect that the trend reversal is only temporary. Of course, a lot depends on the development of the epidemiological and economic situation, because at the moment the demand for employees from Asian countries is noticeably lower,” Krzysztof Inglot, President of the Management Board of Personnel Service and a labor market expert, noted.

In the period of January-June this year 2,400 Nepalese people applied for a job in Poland. This is not enough, taking into account that a year earlier, the most work permits (as many as 6,300) were issued for them. This year, Georgians took the first place, receiving 4,200 permits (3,300 a year earlier). The second position, as in the previous year, was taken by India (4,100), and the third – by Uzbekistan (3,800).

(WBJ)