Whether you are interested in politics or not, massive exodus of Polish workers to Great
Britain after accession of Poland to the European Union in 2004, is still a recurrent
topic in the media. There are around 2mln Polish immigrants living in the European
Union countries, mostly in Great Britain. Since 2004 around 1.2 million Poles have been
issued with the National Insurance numbers, which allows them to work and pay full
taxes in Great Britain. It means that they are entitled to the same level of child and other
welfare benefits as British citizens. One pays taxes, one gets benefits. Fair enough? Not
to everybody. Not to Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron. According to him, fair
means: “Poles pay taxes, Brits get benefits”.
At first glance, one would tell that Polish immigrants are the least problematic
immigration group. Employers think of Poles as hard-working employees and Poles are
the easiest assimilating immigrant group. They do not conduct terrorist attacks. (https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPiXN33bpuc ). They pay 45% more money in taxes to the
budget than they get back in all kind of benefits. From the economic point of view it looks
like a good deal for Great Britain.
However, the European Union Parliament election are coming and general attitude
toward immigrants and the European Union among Britons is negative. Pre-election
polls are for Mr. Cameron’s party not satisfying enough. Logically, the most simple way
to improve its result is to say what people want to hear. Hence, Mr. Cameron had a go
at immigrants. Since England is a country of extreme political correctness he could not
attack Muslim immigrants or immigrants from of other races, so he would not be accused
of being xenophobic. The only group left were immigrants from Poland.
More of a story can be found here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534058/I-stop-child-benefit-exported-Poland-
rest-EU-Cameron-vows-sets-powers-wants-claw-Brussels.html
And here is the answer of Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski:
http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/157901,Dont-stigmatize-Poles-foreign-minister-
tells-Cameron
weewee
What is your opinion on this topic? Would you have anything against immigrants in
Poland? Are you planning to live abroad? If yes, would you consider Great Britain?
Britain after accession of Poland to the European Union in 2004, is still a recurrent
topic in the media. There are around 2mln Polish immigrants living in the European
Union countries, mostly in Great Britain. Since 2004 around 1.2 million Poles have been
issued with the National Insurance numbers, which allows them to work and pay full
taxes in Great Britain. It means that they are entitled to the same level of child and other
welfare benefits as British citizens. One pays taxes, one gets benefits. Fair enough? Not
to everybody. Not to Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron. According to him, fair
means: “Poles pay taxes, Brits get benefits”.
At first glance, one would tell that Polish immigrants are the least problematic
immigration group. Employers think of Poles as hard-working employees and Poles are
the easiest assimilating immigrant group. They do not conduct terrorist attacks. (https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPiXN33bpuc ). They pay 45% more money in taxes to the
budget than they get back in all kind of benefits. From the economic point of view it looks
like a good deal for Great Britain.
However, the European Union Parliament election are coming and general attitude
toward immigrants and the European Union among Britons is negative. Pre-election
polls are for Mr. Cameron’s party not satisfying enough. Logically, the most simple way
to improve its result is to say what people want to hear. Hence, Mr. Cameron had a go
at immigrants. Since England is a country of extreme political correctness he could not
attack Muslim immigrants or immigrants from of other races, so he would not be accused
of being xenophobic. The only group left were immigrants from Poland.
More of a story can be found here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534058/I-stop-child-benefit-exported-Poland-
rest-EU-Cameron-vows-sets-powers-wants-claw-Brussels.html
And here is the answer of Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski:
http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/157901,Dont-stigmatize-Poles-foreign-minister-
tells-Cameron
weewee
What is your opinion on this topic? Would you have anything against immigrants in
Poland? Are you planning to live abroad? If yes, would you consider Great Britain?
To be honest, I totally understand mr Cameron and English people in general, who tolerates us as a nation, but also grow tired of Polish people. I lived in Manchester for a while and even I was tired of people of my nation! I've never received such bullying and sexism from any muslim person than I received from random Polish strangers on the streets. Me and my friend decided to stop talking Polish during the walks, because when we did, immediately someone was on our back. Same goes for restaurants or pubs.
ReplyDeleteThe situation that totally changed my mind about how well we adapt to new countries was an important volleyball match. It was broadcasted on a big screen in a pub made for Polish people only. At first it was awesome, "our" food, "our" beer and a lot of funny people. In the middle of the game, almost everyone inside was totally drunk, fights began and one window got crushed. I run away, rapidly.
Besides, it's not like Polish people are all hard-workers and good citizens. Recently, scary statistics showed up in media - almost 10% of prisoners on the Isles are Polish. I met a lot of people who didn't speak English, too - there are so many Polish people there, Polish shops etc., that it's just irrelevant.
UK is an awesome place to live, but I know I won't get back until "my" people adapt to their environment. I don't want to share a reputation with those people.
I worked in England twice, once in London and once in Redhill near London and I had no problems of being Pole and working hard and not causing problems. I love England but I wouldn't like to live there because of few reasons. One of them is unwillingness from native English on higher-than-above payment who think that Poles can't work as engineers or business specialists ( Sadly I met many people like that )...
ReplyDeleteI don't mind immigrants. I think that multicultural country can improve faster but we can't forget that they are visitors and their laws and habits are not for everyone. I think immigrants who are not willing to assimilate with country they went to are the most important and controversial topic of modern Europe.
What is your opinion on this topic?
ReplyDeleteWe got used to leeching of others that we forgot how to do it our own way. doesn't it bother You that most of Poles left the country and gone to USA/England/anywhere else? We are useless at creating anything from scratch, but we are more than happy to work for someone else, nagging about the taxes, that our boss is earning more than we do and (of course) we should all be managers as soon as we leave high school...
Would you have anything against immigrants in Poland?
Short term - no, long term - no, full on immigrant - yes. why? Our taxing system doesn't work as it should. If someone wants to be here, pay taxes. Simple as that. And don't You ever try to get more than me just by saying You're a minority or something else made up...
Are you planning to live abroad?
Did. Payed my dues. Great experience.
If yes, would you consider Great Britain?
No. To many Poles thinking they're gods. There is so much hate between Poles, that it's just ridiculous. Let's all hope for next generation!
Well, I totally disagree with Martyna - I also lived in Great Britain, near Liverpool and the opinion about Poles I heard were mostly positivie.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of that statistics about 10% of prisoners being Polish. Could you provide me the source please? Because I checked on the Internet and there haven't been any information about it.
I agree with alt_pl - I don't mind immigrants either, however they must remember obey the rules and assimilate.
Oh, didn't see the other posts, sorry. I was not specific, as I see know, it's nearly 10% of foreign prisoners (google "Polish prisoners in UK"). Still, it's A LOT.
ReplyDeleteHere: http://www.mojawyspa.co.uk/artykuly/31256/Polacy-kroluja-w-brytyjskich-wiezieniach
ReplyDelete@Martyna - But according to statistics in 2011 there were 643 000 Polish immigrants inUK, we were the 2nd largest group, so proprtionally, there will be many of Polish citizens in prisons.
ReplyDeleteLets calculate prisoners/immigrant population proportions:
Poland : 989/643 000=0,001538
Ireland : 778/457 000=0,001702
Conclusion is simple - our proportion is not so high in comparison even to Irish people, who are almost British....
What is your opinion on this topic? Would you have anything against immigrants in Poland?
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything against people of other nations. The only thing that makes me angry is when people come to our country, don't work and live only from donations.
Are you planning to live abroad? If yes, would you consider Great Britain?
I don't plan to, but I think it would be nice. I really like England, well maybe besides some food
Hmmm I think that it souldn't be so easy to get polsih citizenship. And I don't want many musilms to come to our country. I totally disagree with theris way of treating women. But I don't have any bigger problem with immigrants. I am just convinced that if you decide to live in some other country you should speak the language, know the culture, habits and be open to the natives. For now I don't want to live in other country I love Poland, but if I would changed my mind it wouldn't be England for sure. When I lived there - I admit it was short period of time during the holiday but still - I pretty much hated everything about the place. A month ago my sis returned from London and she was fed up with this place as well. There are many better places to live/earn…
ReplyDeleteAnd about the behaviour. One cannot generalize, as always. I saw with my own eyes how young brits bahave when they visit Kraków for example. Massacre. So you have everykind of people in every society...
What is your opinion on this topic?
ReplyDeleteI think that everything that politicians says are just because to gain people votes and this example is no different. It is sad that he is using our nation and by it destroys our reputation even more.
Would you have anything against immigrants in Poland?
As long they are assimilating and obey our rules and culture I'm not against imigrants in Poland.
Are you planning to live abroad? If yes, would you consider Great Britain?
No, I'm not planing to live abroad, I like our culture, cuisine and enviroment in overall so I don't have any reason to think about moving abroad.
I think a lot of Poles immigrate to the Great Britain, because they can find better opportunity for studying or working. For example, my friend Konrad is studying at the Aston University. He is the boss of the Aston University Automotive Society and thanks to that he got a job at the BMW in USA! I guess it wouldn’t be possible in Poland.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I also would love to live abroad. My biggest dream is to live in Los Angeles and work in the Film Industry there. However, I think I would also consider the Great Britain, because I like British culture and their Film Industry is on a very high level either. Unfortunately, the weather in UK is usually bad, which I don’t like, therefore I’d prefer LA where most of the time the sun shines.
I think I wouldn't mind to have immigants here, in Poland, but under one condition: they must speak either polish language or english at communicative level. Brits have full right to make conditions to all those who are coming to their country expecting only benefits.
ReplyDeleteEvery country is for its citizens in the first place, secondly for foreigners.
Do I plan to live abroad? No, but if I would, GB would be one of the countries first in line to choose from, because of its possibilities, economic dynamism, great people and wonderful climate (and I don't think about weather here).