Polish govt acknowledges significant contribution of Ukrainians to country's economy

Polish Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Maciej Duszczyk highlighted the significant role Ukrainians play in Poland's economy during an appearance on Polsat News. Duszczyk pointed out that in many instances, the absence of Ukrainian participation becomes apparent, such as the five-minute wait for a bus that would otherwise take ten minutes.

The influx of Ukrainian citizens into Poland has filled crucial gaps in the Polish labor market. Duszczyk emphasizes that a portion of Poland's economy relies on these Ukrainian refugees. He stressed that if all Ukrainians ceased working simultaneously, Poland's economy would come to a halt. Duszczyk also criticized the Law and Justice (PiS) party's proposal for deporting unemployed men of military age from Ukraine, noting that three thousand such individuals were mentioned in public debates.

He pointed out that this number is minuscule compared to the 900,000 people mobilized in Ukraine, rendering the proposal ineffective. Duszczyk explained that those not working in Poland are typically involved in caring for children with disabilities or are war-wounded individuals undergoing rehabilitation in Poland. Regarding the eventual return of refugees to Ukraine post-war, Duszczyk stated that this process is observable in other countries and can be anticipated.

He noted that some individuals return due to unforeseen circumstances, while others remain because they have established deep roots in the Polish society, such as enrolling their children in Polish schools and learning the language, or because they are employed in Poland, making a return impractical.