Living and working in Poland Katarzyna KawkaKope EURES

Living and working in Poland Katarzyna Kawka-Kopeć EURES Adviser TORINO, 9 -10. 2009

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

Administrative division Baltic Sea Russia Gdańsk POMORSKIE PODLASKI WARMIŃSKOMAZURSKIE KUJAWSKOPOMORSKIE Szczecin ZACHODNIOPOMORSKI E Germany Lithuania Olsztyn E Toruń Białystok MAZOWIECKIE LUBUSKIE Poznań Bielarus Warszawa LUBELSKI Zielona Góra WIELKOPOLSKIE E Łódź ŁÓDZKIE DOLNOŚLĄSKIE Lublin Kielce Wrocław ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKIE Opole OPOLSKIE Katowice Rzeszów ŚLĄSKIE Kraków Czech Republic MAŁOPOLSKI E PODKARPACKI E Slovakia Ukraine

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+1 h;

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 2009 1276 PLN = 275 EUR Currency – the Polish zloty (PLN) € 1 buys PLN 4. 15 (16. 09. 2009)

Labour market situation Unemployment rate in July 2009 10, 8 % Employment rate in 2 nd quarter Unemployment benefit 50, 1% PLN 575 = € 138

Labour market situation as of the end of July 2009 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION – REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED 52, 7%- WOMEN 43, 6%- RURAL RESIDENTS 22, 3%- POSSESSING BENEFITS RIGHTS 22, 0%- UNEMPLOYED AGED 18 -24

LABOUR MARKET SITUATION as of the end of July 2009 28, 1% - UNEMPLOYED NOT QUALIFIED 20, 4% - 50 YEARS AND MORE 41, 8% - LONG – TERM UNEMPLOYED ( OVER 12 MONTHS DURING LAST 2 YEARS)

LABOUR MARKET SITUATION as of the end of July 2009

LABOUR MARKET SITUATION as of the end of July 2009

Unemployment rate in EU/EEA

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

Labour market situation Shortages of labour force refers to the following professions: Qualified physical workers: - electricians - carpenters - joiners - bricklayers - plumbers - welders Project managers Sales representatives

Labour market situation Surpluses of labour force refers to the following professions: Salesmen Economic assistant Tailor Welder Cook Locksmith Unskilled workers

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. pl www. epuls. praca. gov. pl • Private agencies (check the legality!); www. kraz. praca. gov. pl • Local newspapers www. 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. pl www. praca. gazeta. pl www. pracuj. pl www. jobspot. pl www. pracadlaciebie. pl www. praca. wp. pl www. praca. onet. pl www. jobs. pl www. jobpilot. pl www. cvonline. pl www. jobcenter. com. pl

At work • • Full time = 40 h/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 NIP 3 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 over up to 85 528 Tax 18% minus the amount reducing tax PLN 556, 02 PLN 14 839, 02 + 32% of the amount in excess PLN 85 528

Mazowieckie, Poland • The capital of country – Warsaw • Area: 35 579 km 2 • 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 km 2 • 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 – 1 st 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 Investment www. mg. gov. pl/ - Ministry of Economy www. 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. best 4 hostels. com – www. hotelspoland. com – www. warsawshotel. com

Emergency and informative phone numbers #112 Police 997 Ambulance 999 Fire Brigade 998 Train information 94 36 Medical 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-Kopeć EURES Adviser Regional Labour Office in Warsaw Phone +48 22 532 22 35 k. kawka@wup. mazowsze. pl