Poland scraps barriers for non-EU workers

Last updated at 16:36 01 September 2006


Poland's labour ministry has scrapped a series of barriers on employing non-EU nationals in a bid to ease labour shortages reported in a number of sectors of the economy.

Under the new system, foreign language teachers, journalists and graduates of Polish medical schools, as well as company management board members and businessman temporarily delegated to Poland will no longer need work permits.

Seasonal farm workers from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus will also be exempt if they work for less than three months during a half-year period, although their employers will have to report they are in Poland.

"Polish farmers have signalled labour shortages. particularly in relation to seasonal work," the ministry said in a statement. "Scrapping the permit requirement should also limit illegal employment."

Poland's jobless rate is the highest in the European Union at just under 16 percent, but the exodus of tens of thousands of younger Poles to jobs in western Europe has sparked fears over shortages in particular sectors at home.

The ministry said the requirement to gain a permit -- which cost around 900 zlotys ($300) -- had also discouraged workers who would otherwise have been legally employed and registered.

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