Poland leads the way relaxing laws for foreign workers

"We want to be an example to other EU member states," declared deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Kazimierz Kuberski. The decision will be presented officially to other European Union countries in two weeks time. "We are not afraid of the large influx of workers from those countries," added Kuberski. "Being a large country with high unemployment, the decision made by Poland may encourage other countries to make similar decisions." Last year Polish authorities issued only 200 work permits to Bulgarians and Romanians, however, according to the Ministry of Labour, even if the number does increase ten-fold there will be no competition for Poles. Poland also intends to open its market wider for Ukrainians which constitute a largest group of foreigners legally employed in here. "Specific regulations for Ukrainians may come into force at the start of 2007 in the optimistic variant but realistically in early spring 2007," said Kuberski. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.1)