English Section

Poland adopts new policies to support Ukrainian refugees: officials

24.05.2022 22:30
Poland’s government has approved a set of new policies to help people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, officials said on Tuesday. 
Polands commissioner for refugees from Ukraine, Paweł Szefernaker (left), and Family and Social Policy Minister Marlena Maląg (right) announce new policies to support refugees, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Poland's commissioner for refugees from Ukraine, Paweł Szefernaker (left), and Family and Social Policy Minister Marlena Maląg (right) announce new policies to support refugees, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.PAP/Piotr Nowak

Deputy Interior Minister Paweł Szefernaker said the measures were targeted at those planning to stay in Poland in the long term, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Childcare clubs, language courses, streamlined labour rules 

These new policies include the creation of childcare clubs for refugee children aged 3 to 5; public provision of Polish-language courses for refugees; and streamlined employment rules, Szefernaker told a news conference. 

Szefernaker, who is the government’s commissioner for refugees from Ukraine, said that “according to refugees themselves, learning Polish is the most important step towards starting employment in Poland.”

Meanwhile, childcare clubs for refugee children “will allow mothers to go to work,” he added.

The new policies are due to take effect in July, reporters were told.

160,000 refugees with jobs in Poland

Szefernaker announced that so far, more than 1.1 million refugees from Ukraine had received their personal identification numbers. He added that more than 460,000 refugees were of working age. 

Marlena Maląg, the minister of family and social policy, said that to date 160,000 refugees from Ukraine have taken jobs in Poland.   

She noted that Ukrainian refugees did not need a permit to work in Poland.

Tuesday was day 90 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Poland on Tuesday reported it had welcomed 3.57 million refugees fleeing Russia's war on Ukraine.

Poland in March enacted a measure to offer wide-ranging support to Ukrainians escaping the Russian invasion of their country, which began on February 24.

The measure grants them residence rights and ensures access to education, healthcare and social benefits.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP