1 Justyna Frelak Institute of Public Affairs Polands mechanisms to sustain the reintegration of expatriates

2 a non governmental and non-partisan public policy think tank

3 Plan of the presentation 1.Polish emigration after May 1, The impact of Polish migration 3.Phenomena of returns 4.Polands return and reintegration policies

4 1.Polish emigration after May 1, 2004

5 Background: joining the EU Labour market liberalisation The debate on opening the labour market Polish government policy

6 The scale of post-enlargement migration approximately 80% of all migrants went in 2007 to six countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the United States and the Netherlands in 2006 Poles were the third largest immigrant group in the UK (318,600), after migrants from India and Ireland CBOS: approx. 1 million of Polish citizens working abroad in 2008

7 Profile of post-enlargement migrants typical Polish migrant worker is young and childless migrant community has more men (53%) then women dominates age group less urbanised regions are particularly susceptible to emigration UK: Poles that have recently arrived earn less than immigrants in the same jobs who came before 2000

8 2. The impact of Polish migration

9 Receiving countries Workers from the EU-8 supplemented the shortage of labour force in the EU-15 Polish migrants did not cause a reduction in wage levels EU-8 immigrants do not cheat the local social security system

10 Poland growing labour market shortages brain drain or brain waste? remittance flows immigration policy

11 3. Phenomena of returns

12 Factors influencing peoples decisions to return: Polish economic situation wages family situation social and professional advancement (closed/open )

13 Source: IPA, IPPR

14 The vast majority of Polish migrants emigrate because of economic reasons, but return because they miss home or want to be with their friends and family in Poland.

15 4. Polands return and reintegration policies

16 Return policies Information campaign Tax abolition Incentives for professionals and businessmen Assistance for families and children Promotion of Poland Reintegration on the labour market

17 Other initiatives: (return to Poland) regional projects