Poland’s former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, speaking on behalf of the Rozwój Plus coalition, has presented a package of initiatives on immigration management. It provides for the individual registration of immigrants, a deportation alert system for cases posing a security threat, and the establishment of a separate deportation service. The initiatives have been presented as proposals from the coalition, rather than as current government decisions.
Briefly about the main points
- The records must cover residence status, employment, taxes and compliance with the law.
- The proposal relates to immigrants in general.
- It is recommended that the deportation alert be activated in the event of a security threat.
- Rozwój Plus wants to set up a separate deportation service.
- The association also put forward ideas on encouraging Poles to return from abroad.
What information do they want to include in the register of immigrants?
Moravetsky He listed «individual registration of immigrants» as the first point on the agenda. It is proposed that this should include information on the legality of a person’s stay in Poland, their employment, and the taxes and contributions they have paid.
The system must also contain information on whether a person has had any dealings with the Polish legal system. The initiative applies to immigrants in general.
The developers present this register as a tool for managing immigration.
Deportation alert and demand for assimilation
Morawiecki identified the deportation alert as the second element. According to his description, if an immigrant poses a threat to Poland’s security, the mechanism is designed to involve all the relevant services and initiate the deportation procedure immediately.
The third initiative is a dedicated deportation service. The former prime minister said that its staff would wear uniforms and have special insignia; he described such a service as an additional measure to ensure safety and peace on Polish streets.
Morawiecki linked the programme to an approach of «total assimilation». In his view, people who wish to live in Poland must abide by the law, respect Polish culture, learn the language and assimilate into Polish society. He rejected the concept of multiculturalism.
The return of Polish nationals and rules for workers from outside the EU
Rozwój Plus has also announced a programme to encourage Poles living abroad to return home. Olga Semenyuk-Patkovska offered those who return a 50 per cent reduction in personal income tax for the first five years, as well as benefits relating to renting accommodation or by taking out a loan.
She also said that the Polish economy needs workers from abroad in a number of sectors. In her view, the state should draw up a list of the professions required and screen candidates, particularly in terms of their language and cultural background, rather than relying on recruitment agencies.
Lukasz Schreiber raised the issue of a possible referendum and the temporary suspension of Poland’s participation in the Schengen Area by land. He also proposed creating the post of Minister for Migration and Integration, setting quotas for non-EU workers and drawing up a list of priority professions.
