Germany top job destination for Polish workers

[Aeternitas]

Germany top job destination for Polish workers

6 May 2005

WARSAW - Neighbouring Germany was the top job destination for Poles during the first year of Poland's membership of the European Union, with more than 350,000 finding legal employment there, the Polish Ministry of Labour reported on Thursday.

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_...Polish+workers

[Theobald]

Interesting, is there a racism towards the Poles in Germany because of this ? I mean, among the common German people, not among the German nationalists.

[Phlegethon]

Well, Germans cannot really work in the agricultural sector because one simply cannot live on 4 Euros per hour in a high-tax high-price country like Germany. But you have Polish surgeons and engineers cutting asparagus here because they make more money in one season than in their profession in a year. I am sure every German would work in Poland as well if they paid 35 Euros per hour - which would be the equivalent for Germans.

The only problem arises when Poles work illegally here, basically on construction sites and in abattoirs. This has actually killed tens of thousands of German jobs already.

[Aeternitas]

I am not sure what you mean by "racism", but generally Eastern Europeans aren't thought the world of. A lot of them wander off over there or in other countries from Western Europe because the payment is more convenient. Phleg's example of 4 euros is not the same in Western Europe as it is in Eastern Europe, so the number of Eastern Europeans doing such jobs is not surprising. Working in the agricultural sector abroad pays more than doing the job one got educated and trained for in Eastern Europe, but for which the wages are a complete joke. Afterwards, some return to their countries and use the euros they had made there. In such materialistic societies, it's all a matter of money and survival.

[Phlegethon]

Actually these Poles are more hated in Poland than in Germany, I guess, because they tend to display their wealth acquired by mostly illegal labor abroad.

[bocian]

Most Poles are hardly acquiring 'wealth' doing the work they do in Germany and elsewhere. Some do however make enough to stand on their feet.

I do not think they are hated when they return home. Let's not go crazy now.

[Zyklop]

Originally Posted by bocian

I do not think they are hated when they return home.

I surely wouldn´t hate them for returning home

[Phlegethon]

I've heard different stories. And of course you can get rich if you work in the west illegally because you don't pay a single cent taxes. Ten Euros per hour is a pretty good wage if it is tax-free. Most people make a whole lot less.

If someone makes ten times as much money as the average Pole, returns home and that becomes known in his town problems arise. Pretty simple, isn't it?

[Aeternitas]

One would even make more money as a toilet cleaner or waiter in Western Europe than as a teacher or doctor in Eastern Europe. No wonder they go work over there.

[Phlegethon]

The only question is: Where can we go to?

Unemployment in my area (the former industrial heart of Europe) is well over 25%.

[bocian]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

I've heard different stories. And of course you can get rich if you work in the west illegally because you don't pay a single cent taxes. Ten Euros per hour is a pretty good wage if it is tax-free. Most people make a whole lot less.

If someone makes ten times as much money as the average Pole, returns home and that becomes known in his town problems arise. Pretty simple, isn't it?

They will still pay taxes on goods, just not income taxes. They will also have to pay for food, shelter, transportation etc. They still have expenses, almost as much as the average German does.

You should also understand, that many people also make 'unofficial' money on the side in Poland, and any official figure you come across, is probably less than what it is in reality.

Life in Poland has also become much more expensive. Most of these people aren't returning home 'wealthy', just with some money... Perhaps for a used car, or to pay off some debt.

[Phlegethon]

I know that all these Poles are pulling money from the German economy. They are not spending anything here, work illegally, consequently do not pay taxes and are responsible for the axing of tens of thousands of regular jobs. Enough reasons not to have them around here, especially as there are over 9 million jobless Germans already. If Poles want to work they should do it at home, as there is still a shitload of work waiting to be done.

[bocian]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

I know that all these Poles are pulling money from the German economy. They are not spending anything here, work illegally, consequently do not pay taxes and are responsible for the axing of tens of thousands of regular jobs. Enough reasons not to have them around here, especially as there are over 9 million jobless Germans already. If Poles want to work they should do it at home, as there is still a shitload of work waiting to be done.

Well, I agree to an extent, but what will happen in the coming years when Germans move in on Poland and start buying everything up? It's certainly a possibility.

As much as Poles aren't welcome in Germany, there are many in east Germany working as doctors, butchers, contractors etc. because many Germans went west and someone had to fill the void. I remember reading somewhere that 1 in 5 doctors in east Germany are Poles.

I hate to say this, but once again, Germany can thank and blame itself for this...

Someone is giving these Poles work, and they are German.

[Phlegethon]

Originally Posted by bocian

Well, I agree to an extent, but what will happen in the coming years when Germans move in on Poland and start buying everything up? It's certainly a possibility.

Why buy?

Originally Posted by bocian

I hate to say this, but once again, Germany can thank and blame itself for this...

Wrong, they may have German passports but they are capitalist scum, importing cheap labor and destroying the social fabric in this country. Sooner or later they will meet their fate and German jobs will be filled with Germans again. Those who don't like the concept of paying decent wages for decent work can pick one of the many hundred trains and planes leaving Germany every day.

[bocian]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

Why buy?

It's not a question of why, rather when, and how much.

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

Wrong, they may have German passports but they are capitalist scum, importing cheap labor and destroying the social fabric in this country. Sooner or later they will meet their fate and German jobs will be filled with Germans again. Those who don't like the concept of paying decent wages for decent work can pick one of the many hundred trains and planes leaving Germany every day.

I agree, but these are internal German affairs.

[Aeternitas]

Since there was a shifting of borders after the end of World War II and the USSR kept the conquered land from 1939 offering German land as compensation to the Poles, should Germany buy everything in its own land? Not to mention there was no treaty signed. The BRD represents neither the interest of Germany, nor that of the Germans.