Polish

Migration to the UK

Between 2004-2006 an estimated million people migrated to the UK, the
greatest migration for a millennium, most of which came from Poland.

Causes of the Migration:
In 2004 10 countries joined the EU, Including Poland, giving them the right to
work anywhere in the EU. After the collapse of communism in the 1990s,
centrally planned economies such as Poland, where the state provided work for
all, now saw unemployment soar. This is a result of becoming open to capitalism,
in which these former communist countries could not compete with the lower
cost of western producers.
During this time demand for work in the UK was High, which when coupled with
the wage being 4x higher (Mean of 1270 in the Uk and 234 in Poland)
attracted the Polish to the UK. Unemployment in the UK (5% in 2006) was lower
than Poland (18% in 2006) and companies were finding it difficult to fill the
dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs.
The UK was suffering from an aging population (from the baby boom), shrinking
its number of economically active worker. The migrants helped to counteract
this.
The rise in low cost air and coach travel eased communication between the two
Countries; by 2007 Easyjet had links to Warsaw and Krakow from Luton,
Gatwick, Newcastle, Belfast, Bristol and Liverpool.
English was the second language of many migrants making it popular, this
coupled with chain migration, with polish communities already in place from the
migration of polish as refuges from communism after WW2, made it easy for new
migrants to migrate.

Impacts:
Positive economic:
The migrants were willing to do the dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs that the
indigenous population did not. Many polish found work as cleaners, carers, home
workers and in agriculture, 30% of migrants in the salmon industry in the
highlands of Scotland are polish.
As registered workers migrants pay taxes and national insurance contributions
exceeds what they withdraw in benefits.
Most migrants are under 35, are eager to prosper and are innovative in setting
up their own businesses, helping the UK economy.
Negative economic:
The cheap workforce in migrants keeps the wage rates low, and gives the feeling
to low skilled local workers that their jobs are being taken away and that they
are unwilling to work for such a low income.

Positive social:
As with the influx of migrants from South-East Asia enriched our culture (with
Bollywood, and foods), there is evidence that polish food, restaurants and music
is enriching our society also.

Negative social:
The immigrants put a heavy strain on the national health care and education. In
London, 1 child in 7 does not have English as a first language. This is repeated
across the UK with impacts very severe in places such as Peterborough.

Positive economic for the source country:
As poles gain work in the UK, they transfer money back to their relatives in
Poland. Up to 10% of polish GDP comes from such transfers. However if the UK
economy turns and unemployment hits, this income source would stop, although
if the polish were to return to Poland they could use the skills they have learned
in the UK.

Negative economic source country:
If the young, entrepreneurial and educated poles are leaving for the UK, it leaves
Poland with an aging or less skilled population, slowing their economic growth.


Case Study: Polish Peterborough

Impacts of Polish immigration:
Negative Social:
-Eight polish people lived in only 2 rooms,
- Caused overcrowding in hospitals with a lack of money causing strain on the local
NHS with interpreters and injections for children becoming highly needed.
- Some schools are at maximum capacity and have up to 24 different languages
causing a language barrier and stressing the local education system.
- Prostitution grew.
-Less of an integrated community
Groups formed in protest of the rates of immigration to the local area.

Positive Social
Bilingual officers were needed, but resulted in a fall in crime levels.

Positive economic for source country:
- Since 2008 more Polish people have been immigrating back to Poland due to a rise
in jobs in their home country.