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((INTRO:))
[[Nearly a year has passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing to other countries, including to neighboring Poland. Lesia Bakalets reports from Warsaw on how some Ukrainians have adapted to life in Poland and are impacting the economy.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptPoland-Ukrainian Refugees Business
HEADLINE: Ukrainians Settling into Life in Poland One Year After Fleeing Russian Invasion
TEASER: In 2022, Ukrainians registered 20,000 companies in Poland, moreover, the contribution of Ukrainians to the state budget compensated for the refugees.
PUBLISHED: 2/22/23 at 2:50pm
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Warsaw, Poland
VIDEOGRAPHER: Daniil Batushchak
SCRIPT EDITORS: MPage; CAW, MAS
PRODUCER:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TV PKG
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO:))
[[Nearly a year has passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing to other countries, including to neighboring Poland. Lesia Bakalets reports from Warsaw on how some Ukrainians have adapted to life in Poland and are impacting the economy.]]
((NARRATION))
A box with seashells sits near the entrance to the Chornomorka Seafood Restaurant - the first Polish branch of a well-known Ukrainian chain.
The restaurant opened last year. Olga Kopylova says about 80% of its clients are Poles.
((Olga Kopylova, Chornomorka Restaurants)) ((RUS))
“Here the concept is different from the Ukrainian chain; it is more European. People go to the window themselves, choose fish, and do more self-service. That’s what Poles are used to.”
Kopylova said it was complicated to open the first restaurant in Poland just because the market and the business laws were new for her team. Kopylova also said she has a colleague who speaks Polish, so the language was not an issue.
In 2022, Ukrainians registered 20,000 companies in Poland, according to the Polish Economic Institute.
One expert says Ukrainian refugees have been able to contribute about as much to Poland’s budget as the country has spent on Ukrainian refugees since Russia’s invasion.
((Maciej Duszczyk, Warsaw University Center of Migration Research)) ((ENG))
“If you take only spending from the Polish budget as social benefits (to Ukrainians) and the sum from the taxes and social contribution, I think, this net balance is zero from both sides.”
((NARRATOR))
The most popular fields for Ukrainians to launch a business in Poland include construction and IT, along with sectors that include finance and health services.
Vitaliy Shkil is the co-founder of an online mathematics school which opened in Ukraine two years ago. He branched out to Poland and has been serving the Polish market since April.
((Vitaliy Shkil, Mathema.me Co-founder)) ((UKR))
“We have about 100 students and about 15 teachers. They are Polish.
Parents turn to us with a request; we understand how to classify the request and find teachers who can solve it.”
((NARRATOR))
And Duszczyk says Poland supports the desire of Ukrainians to work.
((Maciej Duszczyk, Warsaw University Center of Migration Research)) ((ENG))
“We protected war refugees while establishing special law – this is the temporary protection directive from the European Union."
He says a key part of the directive allows Ukrainians to immediately join the labor market.
Poland also reduced the financial support for refugees to a minimum, so being unemployed here is not an option for Ukrainians.
[[For Radio version: Hlib Vyshlinsky is executive director at the Center for Economic Strategy]]
((Hlib Vyshlinsky, Center for Economic Strategy Executive Director)) ((UKR)) ((via Zoom))
“The only payment that Ukrainian refugees constantly receive is 500 zlotyh per month per child. If they are adult Ukrainians, they do not receive anything in Poland.”
That would be about $112 per month.
Experts say Poles got an effective boost to their economy due to the Ukrainians.
And in this sense, the year 2023 might be even better than the previous one.
Kopylova plans to open 25 new restaurants in Poland this year.
((Lesia Bakalets, for VOA News, Warsaw.)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Warsaw, Poland
Embargo DateFebruary 22, 2023 21:10 EST
Byline
((Lesia Bakalets, for VOA News, Warsaw.))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
