Poland faces labor shifts and administrative delays in hiring foreigners

The Polish labor market is undergoing a significant shift as the number of Ukrainian workers with temporary protection status decreases. Data from Eurostat indicates that many Ukrainians are opting to work in Germany or the Czech Republic instead of Poland. To fill the resulting labor gap, Polish companies are increasingly hiring citizens from other nations, such as Colombia and the Philippines, which have seen rapid growth in their numbers of registered employees.

However, businesses are facing severe administrative hurdles in securing foreign staff. Companies report that procedures for work permits and residency legalization are frequently exceeding statutory deadlines. Experts note that decisions on work permits can take between six to seven months, while residency legalization processes are averaging approximately 340 days, far exceeding the legal 60-day requirement. These delays prevent employers from effectively planning their staffing needs.