TORINO, 9-10.10.2009

Living and Living and working working in Polandin Poland

Katarzyna Kawka-KopećKatarzyna Kawka-KopećEURES AdviserEURES Adviser

Entry into Poland

A European Union (EU) citizen may enter the territory of Poland on the basis of a valid travel document or another document confirming his/her identity and citizenship.

If an EU citizen remains in the territory of Poland for more than three months he/she is required to register his/her residence, and a family member who is not an EU citizen is required to obtain an EU citizen's family member's residency card.

More information:www.udsc.gov.pl - Office for Aliens

Residing in Poland for more than 3 months

An EU citizen may remain in Poland for a period longer than three months if:1 is an employee or self-employed,

2. is covered by general health insurance or is entitled to health care benefits on the basis of regulations on the coordination of social insurance systems, and has sufficient funds to support himself/herself and family members in Poland,

3. is a student or undergoes job training

4. is the spouse of a Polish citizen.

POLAND in Europe

Szczecin

Gdańsk

Toruń

Poznań

Zielona Góra

Wrocław Opole

Katowice

Kraków

Łódź

Kielce

Rzeszów

Lublin

Warszawa

Białystok

Olsztyn

ZACHODNIOPOMORSKIE

POMORSKIE

WARMIŃSKO-MAZURSKIE

PODLASKIE

LUBELSKIE

PODKARPACKIE

KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE

MAZOWIECKIE

ŁÓDZKIE

WIELKOPOLSKIE

LUBUSKIE

DOLNOŚLĄSKIE

OPOLSKIE ŚLĄSKIE

MAŁOPOLSKIE

ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKIE

Baltic Sea

Germany

Slovakia

Ukraine

Lithuania

Bielarus

Russia

Administrative divisionAdministrative division

Czech Republic

General information

• Full country name: Republic of Poland;• Member of UE: 1 May 2004• Political system: paliamentary democracy –

two chamber parliament• Population: 38.1 million;• Capital city: Warszawa (Warsaw) –

population 1.7 million;• Official language: Polish;• Currency: 1 Zloty (PLN) = 100 Groszy,

1 EUR approx. 4,17 PLN (15.09.2009);• Time: GMT+1h;

General information

•Nationalities: 98.5% Polish, 0.6% Ukrainians, 0.5% Germans, 0.4% others;

•Religion: 90.7% Roman Catholics, 1.4% Russian Orthodox, 7.9% other

•The biggest cities: Warszawa, Łódź, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Białystok (listed according to the number of inhabitants);

•Climate: Moderate. the average summer temp. are 16,5°C - 20°C the average winter temp. are -6°C - 0 °C

General information

• Public Holidays:• 1 January: New Year’s Day,• Easter Sunday and Monday (first Sunday after

the first spring full moon),• 1 May: Labour Day,• 3 May: Constitution Day,• Corpus Christi: (Thursday of the ninth week

after Easter),• 15 August: Assumption of Virgin Mary, Polish

Army Day,• 1 November: All Saints’ Day,• 11 November: National Independence Day,• 25,26 December: Christmas.

Main economic indicators

•The average gross monthly pay in January 2009

3361,90 PLN = 810 EUR

•The lowest gross monthly pay in 20091276 PLN = 275 EUR

Currency –Currency – thethe Polish zPolish zlloty oty (PLN)(PLN)

€€ 1 buys PLN 1 buys PLN 4.15 4.15 (16.09.2009)(16.09.2009)

Labour market situation

Unemployment rate in Unemployment rate in July 2009 July 2009

10,810,8 % %Employment rate in 2nd quarterEmployment rate in 2nd quarter

50,1%50,1%

Unemployment benefit

PLN 575 = € € 138138

Labour market situationas of the end of July 2009

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION – GENERAL DISTRIBUTION – REGISTERED UNEMPLOYEDREGISTERED UNEMPLOYED

52,7%52,7%- WOMEN- WOMEN43,6%43,6%- RURAL RESIDENTS- RURAL RESIDENTS22,3%22,3%- POSSESSING BENEFITS RIGHTS- POSSESSING BENEFITS RIGHTS22,0%-22,0%- UNEMPLOYED AGED 18-24 UNEMPLOYED AGED 18-24

LABOUR MARKET SITUATION as of the end of July 2009

28,1%28,1% - UNEMPLOYED NOT QUALIFIED - UNEMPLOYED NOT QUALIFIED20,4% - 20,4% - 50 YEARS AND MORE50 YEARS AND MORE41,8%41,8% - LONG – TERM UNEMPLOYED - LONG – TERM UNEMPLOYED ( OVER 12 MONTHS DURING LAST 2 YEARS)( OVER 12 MONTHS DURING LAST 2 YEARS)

LABOUR MARKET SITUATION as of the end of July 2009

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS BY AGE as of the end of JUNE 2009 IN THOUSANDS

359

488

305365

12022

0

200

400

600

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-59 60-64

YEARS

LABOUR MARKET SITUATION as of the end of July 2009

UNEMPLOYED BY EDUCATION LEVEL as of the end of JUNE 2009

8,4%

22,7%

11,1%28,8%

29,0% teritary

vocational secondary

general secondary

basic vocational

primary and incomplete primary

Unemployment rate in EU/EEA

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BY VOIVODSHIPS (REGIONS)JULY 2009 (POLAND 10,8%)

Dolnośląskie Lubelskie

Lubuskie

Łódzkie

Małopolskie

Mazowieckie

Opolskie

Podkarpackie

Podlaskie

Pomorskie

Śląskie

Świętokrzyskie

Warmińsko-Mazurskie

Wielkopolskie

Zachodnio pomorskie Kujawsko-

Pomorskie

11,7%

14,5%

11,7%

14,5%

10,6%

8,8%

8,3%

11,2%

14,4%

11,2%

10,1%

8,4%

14,1%

18%

7,9%

14,2%

Labour market situationShortages of labour force refers to the

following professions:

QQualified physical ualified physical workers:workers:

- e- electricianslectricians- - carpenterscarpenters- j- joinersoiners- b- bricklayersricklayers- p- plumberslumbers- - welders welders

PProject managersroject managers SSales representativesales representatives

SalesmenSalesmenEconomic assistantEconomic assistantTailorTailorWelderWelderCookCookLocksmithLocksmithUnskilled workersUnskilled workers

Labour market situationSurpluses of labour force refers to the

following professions:

Job search

• The Public Employment Services – Local and Regional Labour Officers (EURES adviser, assistant);

• www.eures.praca.gov.pl• www.eures.europa.eu

www.psz.praca.gov.plwww.epuls.praca.gov.pl

• Private agencies (check the legality!); www.kraz.praca.gov.pl

• Local newspaperswww.gazetapraca.pl

Job search

• Labour Offices– 16 Regional (Voivodship) Labour Offices– 338 Local Labour Offices– Vocational courses, on-the-job training, CVs,

Cover Letters, job-psychologist and advisers help

– Free registration– www.epuls.praca.gov.pl

Some portal websites are provided below:

www.praca.interia.plwww.praca.gazeta.plwww.pracuj.plwww.jobspot.pl www.pracadlaciebie.plwww.praca.wp.plwww.praca.onet.plwww.jobs.plwww.jobpilot.plwww.cvonline.plwww.jobcenter.com.pl

At work

• Full time = 40h/week or individual agreement

• Overtime = paid 150% or time off• Salary – paid monthly• Social Security – employer submits

employee• Taxes, contributions – deducted from

salary• Holidays – 20-26 working days• Working time

– 7:30 – 15:30 most public companies– 8:30 at latest… - private companies

Personal Income Tax in 2009

- An individual who for the first time takes up gainful employment in Poland must obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (NIP). To do so, he must fill out a NIP3 form and file it with the Tax Office.

- Poland has a progressive income tax system. We have two tax rates.

- Employees are obliged to pay monthly advances which are withheld from their salaries by the employers.

- The income tax is calculated on the basis of gross wages less compulsory social security contributions and deductible costs.

-Tax free amount: up to 3 091 PLN

Taxable base in PLN Tax

over up to  

  85 52818% minus the amount reducing tax

PLN 556,02

85 528PLN 14 839,02

+ 32% of the amount in excess PLN 85 528

Mazowieckie, Poland

• The capital of country – Warsaw

• Area: 35 579 km2

• Population: 5 164 600

• Unemployment rate:8,3% (end of July 2009)

Warsaw, Poland

• Warsaw is known as the "phoenix city", as it was completely destroyed during World War II, and rebuilt with the heroic effort of Polish citizens.

Warsaw, Poland

• Area: 517,22 km2

• Population: 1.706.966 (March 2008)• Unemployment rate: 2,5% (end of

August 2009)• Warsaw’s emblem

Warsaw – investement opportunities

• almost half a million firms

• The prevalent economic sectors are trade, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, IT, the motor industry and petrochemicals

• the largest Polish region in terms of the population, with a young and well qualified workforce

Warsaw – useful links

• http://e-warsaw.pl • http://www.warsawtour.pl • http://www.warsaw-life.com

Own business – 1st step

• Registration in the City Hall or Mayor Office (appropriate for the address of residence or intended business)– Application form must contain

• Company and owner name• Address of the owner and company• Type of activities – according to the Polish

Classification of Activities• Place of business• Expected date of starting activities

– Fee – 100 zł (~24 €€) – Waiting period – till 10 working days

Own business – step 2

• REGON (statistical number)– information system considering running business

– Apply in Regional Statistical Office– Within 14 days from receiving registration

certificate– Must bring ID and registration certificate– Is issued free of charge within two weeks– Must be included in company seals and

forms

Own business – step 3

• Tax Office registration– NIP (number of personal tax identification)

is a ten-digit code used to identify entities which pay taxes in Poland

– Application NIP-1– Copy of registration certificate– Copy of REGON decision– VAT – registration 170 PLN (41 €€) – your

choice – if incomes > 10.000 € it’s obligatory to apply

Own business – last steps

• Own / company seal• Bank account• Social Insurance Office (ZUS)• If catering – SANEPID (district

sanitary - epidemiological office)

• National Work Inspection – if hired employees

Own business – useful links

More information:www.paiz.gov.pl/ - Polish Agency for Information and Foreign Investmentwww.mg.gov.pl/ - Ministry of Economywww.twoja-firma.pl/

Costs of living

• Bread – 2 PLN ~ 0,43 €• Butter – 3,5 PLN ~ 0,75 €• Yogurt – 2 PLN ~ 0,43 €• 1,5 l water – 2 PLN ~ 0,43 €• 1 l orange juice – 3 PLN ~ 0,64 €• 1 kg ham – 25 PLN ~ 5,4 €• 1 beer – 3 - 10 PLN ~ 0,64 - 2,15 €• Cinema ticket – 24 PLN ~ 5,2 €• Housing costs depends on the location and it’s

around 1200 – 2500 PLN which is 290 – 600 € per month

Airports in Poland

Transportation

• Polish Railways PKP– www.pkp.pl/english/index.php

• Polish Coaches/Bus service– PKS - Only in Polish– Eurolines www.biletyautokarowe.com.pl

• Rent a car – www.avis.pl– www.budget.pl– www.europcar.pl– www.hertz.pl– www.sixt.pl

• Warsaw’s Public Transportation- www.ztm.waw.pl

Accommodation

• Hotels and accommodation– www.staypoland.com/aboutus.htm– www.travelpoland.com– www.tripadvisor.com– www.best4hostels.com– www.hotelspoland.com– www.warsawshotel.com

Emergency and informative

phone numbers

#112Police 997Ambulance 999Fire Brigade 998Train information 94 36Medical information 94 39

Important websites in Poland

• Information about Poland: www.poland.gov.pl • President of the Republic of Poland:

www.prezydent.pl• Polish legal service: www.prawo.lex.pl• Ministry of Labour and Social Policy:

www.mpips.gov.pl• Ministry of Justice: www.ms.gov.pl• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.msz.gov.pl• Ministry of Health: www.mz.gov.pl• Poland company browser (company directory –

Panorama Firm): www.pf.pl

Polish EURES www.eures.praca.gov.pl

Thank you for your attention

Katarzyna Kawka-KopećEURES Adviser

Regional Labour Office in Warsaw

Phone +48 22 532 22 35k.kawka@wup.mazowsze.pl