The ageing of society will be strengthened

After the enlargement of the European Union, the fear that the inhabitants of the new Member countries invade the markets of the work of the former Union was pervasive. The prospect of a massive influx of Polish, Slovak or Hungarian concerned many trade unionists while she shunned the employers. In the candidate countries, at the time of the negotiations, makers too concerned to seek the opening of the markets in the Union were not possible leak of the brain concerned. Today, the situation is reversed. Since the lifting of restrictions in several countries of the Union, they are now poles begin to worry about the large number of well educated young people who leave their country. At the same time, the countries of the former Union, such as the Ireland or England, rejoice to see arrive this young, highly skilled and cheap labour.

The number of emigrants, since 1 May 2004, has doubled: voluntary departures amounted to 800,000. However, these figures do not reflect the truth: many workers travel for seasonal work abroad or stay for short durations. This is especially the case in Germany, which continues to host the largest number of Poles, while the increase in the "real" immigrants is far higher Ireland and Great Britain. In principle, these departures should not raise concerns specific in Poland since this country shows a high rate of unemployment (15.5 of the active population). But those who leave are not unemployed. According to polls, professional emigration is considered mainly by persons with a job permanent or occasional, well trained and active, aged 18 to 34 years. The Poland with a very low professional activity rates (barely more than half of Poles have a job), the departure of a strong contingent of young graduates can only strengthen this trend. The ageing of society will be strengthened. Moreover, this emigration is that certain professional groups and regions. The departures of nurses and doctors, mainly anaesthetists, are observed with concern, like those of the bankers, workers of building or the police.

It is foreign demand more than the liberalization of flows of labour which encourages the most enterprising to leave their country. Liberalisation is only one factor among others which influence the decision of Poles to leave or not, as we can see in Norway, where, despite the maintenance of restrictions, this country has allowed much more of our emigrants than the Sweden, which has liberalized its access to the labour market. Among the reasons for young Poles first argue the hope of Western wages higher than those which they can benefit in Poland. This concerns especially employees with high qualifications, who work in the public sector and are highly sought after, for example medical personnel. Unemployment, the lack of promotions and the lack of salary prospects are also crucial. Many young people complain about bad relations work in Poland and the lack of respect for the hierarchy for the employees. There are also those that the Polish political situation enrages.

In view of this, the Poland, as the Union, should adopt a policy of overall migration and long term, to integrate the actions of several countries and institutions. Access of the citizens of third countries, for example, in the Polish market, should also be liberalized, to meet the possible shortage of local labour. A global strategy for action on this issue for the moment is lacking.

This problem is at the centre of the concerns of the opposition, including the civic platform. The Institute of public affairs, at the request of the party, developed recommendations that emphasize the need to change the way that emigration is perceived. The concept of emigration is formed in Poland in the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century. The emigration of then was in a context of more or less total loss of contact with the mother country. The era of electronic media, television by satellite, the Internet and cheap airlines, the concept of global village becomes a fact. Today, emigrate, it is "go" and not "die". It is no longer need to abandon their language and culture and sever ties with the country and the family. The decision to go is more definitive. In addition, the returns must more be considered as a success or a failure. In a situation of globalization of labor markets, migrations are a natural part of life. Now, they are more synonymous with leak but rather of a possibility of realizing its own aspirations. A return is no longer a failure but is part of life projects.

In its recommendations, the Institute of Public Affairs drew attention to the fact that one of the factors likely to encourage emigrants to return is the knowledge of the conditions proposed by the Polish State. Such information could be disseminated through a portal Internet, specially designed for this purpose. The Polish offices abroad, in particular the consulates, must ensure that the persons wishing to return Poland, professional assistance and access to information, especially those concerning the Polish labour market, taxes, education, the recognition of diplomas, etc. The civic platform provides to those who start, once returned to Poland, an economic activity of the facilities and various tax exemptions. Emigration will ultimately us be certainly very beneficial if it is accompanied by many returns of more qualified.