The number of Ukrainian workers, employed in the Polish construction industry and agriculture, has increased to 200 thousand – “Gazeta Prawna” reports, according to Polish Market Online.
According to information by the Ministry of Labour, quoted by the newspaper, 16.4 thousand applications to hire workers from Ukraine and Belarus were filed in labour offices by entrepreneurs in March. 93% of them concern Ukrainians. In December 2007 only 4.1 thousand such applications were filed.
The increase of interest in Ukrainian labour force has been also noted by the visa department at the Polish consulate in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. Almost 12 thousand visas have already been issued this year compared to 700 visas issued in the corresponding period last year.
According to experts, hiring Ukrainian workers might slowdown the growth of salaries in the sectors they work in. On the other hand, the trend will boost the economy through tightening competition and filling in labour shortages.
