“The changes will mean that payments of 800 zlotys per month per child will be received only by those migrants who are working”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
It is a payment of 800 zlotys per month for each child.
“The proposal of Rafal Tshaskovsky (Mayor of Warsaw – ed.) to pay 800+ only to those migrants, including Ukrainians, who actually live, work and pay taxes in our country, the government will urgently consider. I’m for it,” the post reads.
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On January 17 of this year, the mayor of Warsaw and the presidential candidate from the ruling “Civic Coalition” at a meeting with voters voiced a proposal to limit aid to Ukrainians, because in his opinion, this “corresponds to common sense”
“The majority of Ukrainians work in Poland, most of them work hard to ensure that our economy grows, and this is what we are talking about. We should not repeat the mistakes of other Western countries – such as Germany and Sweden, where it was profitable to come only for social benefits. The most important thing for us is that everyone who wants to come to us and hopes for support should strengthen our economy,” Tshaskovskyi said.
A few days after these words, on January 20, the head of the parliamentary club of the opposition party “Law and Justice”, Mariusz Blaszczak, announced that his political force had submitted to the Diet a project on limiting payments to Ukrainians.
“800+ for citizens of Ukraine, only if their parents work and pay taxes in Poland,” party members said.
Yesterday, January 22, Marshal of the Seimas Shimon Holovnya announced during a press conference that the project “Rights and Justice” will not be considered at the next meeting. He added that initiatives on such sensitive issues must first go through public consultations.
Prime Minister Tusk’s post today that he supports the 800+ payment limit for migrants, including Ukrainians, caused a flurry of comments.
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“Do you want to take away 800+ from mothers, including single mothers, who after the birth of a child stay at home with the baby?” – wrote the leader of the “Left” parliamentary club Anna-Maria Zhukovska.
The leader of the “Together” party, Adrian Zandberg, also criticized the idea of limiting financial aid to Ukrainians:
“There is no sense in this, because it is in Poland that Ukrainians are professionally active. The real problems with the functioning of immigrants in the labor market lie elsewhere.”
Myroslava Keryk, head of the board of the Ukrainian House in Warsaw, also responded. She emphasized that it is thanks to Ukrainian refugees that Poland’s economy is growing. Last year, according to her, the “share of Ukrainians” in Poland’s gross domestic product was more than 1%.
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“I want to remind you that the war continues and the family members of those children, whom the presidential candidate wants to refuse help, are fighting and dying so that Poland is also safe,” Keryk wrote.
An allowance of PLN 800 per month is provided in Poland for each child up to the age of 18, regardless of the family’s income. After February 24, 2022, Ukrainian refugees also receive such assistance, but on the condition that the children go to Polish schools.
According to the UNHCR, about a million Ukrainian refugees currently live in Poland.