UKRAINIANS FILL GAPS IN THE BUDGET OF POLAND

Foreign workers, the absolute majority of whom are Ukrainians, began to fill gaps in the finances of the Polish Social Insurance Office (ZUS). It is reported by Upmp.news with reference to the All-Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies.

“Foreigners not only successfully rescue the Polish labor market, but also increasingly support public finances,” the article says. According to the publication, last year, foreign workers could pay the state 3-6 billion zloty in the form of various fees.

It’s about people who are registered with ZUS, working legally under a contract or under an employment contract and paying social security contributions and personal income tax. According to the Department of Social Insurance, by the end of 2017 their number reached up to 440 thousand and 50% exceeded the previous year.

Estimates of the amount of taxes paid by the publication are approximate because neither ZUS nor the Ministry of Finance carry out such an analysis.

“Taxes and contributions from foreigners registered with ZUS may amount to 5.2 billion zł. This is an indicative amount, but undoubtedly the rapid increase in the number of foreigners in the register is one of the reasons for a relatively good financial situation in ZUS, which ended a year with a deficit lower than planned,” said Polish Employers’ Organization expert Lukash Kozlovsky.

The largest number of foreigners registered with the Office of Social Insurance are Ukrainians – 316 thousand. Their number is growing fastest – from year to year by more than 60%. The second largest group is incomparably smaller – Byelorussians (24 thousand).