178th mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: Immigration and the Labour Market in Poland

Publications

22 May 2024

Labour, Migration and Social Policies

mBank – CASE Seminar Proceedings

Jan Bazyli Klakla

Maciej Duszczyk

Paweł Kaczmarczyk

Ewa Balcerowicz

Agata Górny

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Jan Bazyli Klakla

Director of Migration, Social Policy, and Development Cooperation
Dr Jan Bazyli Klakla is Director of Migration, Social Policy, and Development Cooperation at CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research. He oversees a broad portfolio of projects in these areas, including work on socio-legal studies and on higher education and science policy. Dr. Klakla has been involved in and has led numerous national and European research projects, including those funded by Horizon Europe, Norway Grants, and Polish National Science Center. His work also includes providing consulting and expert services to key European institutions such as the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, and CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training). He has served as an expert in the “Safe Krakow - Security Strategy for Krakow” program. Dr. Klakla is the editor of Law and Culture. Reconceptualization and Case Studies (Springer Nature, 2021) and the author of Law and Acculturation. Conceptualisation and Empirical Case Study: Slavic Migrants in Poland (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) and Studying in Times of Crisis. Acculturation and Adaptation of Ukrainian Students at Kraków Higher Education Institutions amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and Russia's Aggression against Ukraine (Brill, 2025). In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he was awarded first prize in the competition of the Association of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR) – Polish Section for the best doctoral dissertation in the theory and philosophy of law. His research interests span migration, sociology of law, educational research, public policy analysis, customary law, and the methodology of social sciences.

Articles from this author:
- Doctoral Education and Training in Europe
- Qualifications Beyond Borders: Recognition of Ukrainian Diplomas and Qualifications in Poland
- Blueprint and Methodology for Innovative Governance
  The publication is a key deliverable within the BioBeo project, funded under the Horizon Europe program. It provides a structured approach to integrating bioeconomy education into school curricula across different institutional and social environments. The report examines the actors involved in curriculum decision-making, from policymakers and school administrators to parents, students, and businesses. It categorizes existing procedures for introducing new content into schools, whether initiated by teachers, school heads, or government authorities. Key barriers—legal, organizational, and socio-cultural—are identified, along with strategies to overcome them. A central theme is the importance of inclusive governance in education, advocating for participatory decision-making that involves various stakeholders. Recommendations highlight the need for flexibility in curriculum design, adequate funding, professional support for teachers, and depoliticization of educational content. The report concludes by situating these findings within the broader BioBeo curriculum framework, reinforcing the role of education in fostering a sustainable and circular bioeconomy.
Author’s articles
Maciej Duszczyk
Paweł Kaczmarczyk
Ewa Balcerowicz

Chairwoman of the CASE Supervisory Council
Chairwoman of CASE Supervisory Council (July 2008-present) and mBank-CASE Seminars Project Manager

Articles from this author:
- 185th mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: AI as a Tool for the Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture
  The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the future of Agriculture 4.0 and underscores the need for cross-sectoral cooperation, digital competence development, and responsible innovation in the agri-food sector. The publication also calls for an integrated approach combining engineering, ecological awareness, and public policy to ensure that AI becomes a tool for the common good.
- 182nd mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: Polish and Ukrainian Agriculture in a Common Europe
- 180th mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: BNPL: Buy Now Pay Later. Deferred Payment– An Established Idea Gaining Traction
  The publication examines the growing popularity and implications of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) financial model in Poland and globally. It features expert analyses and discussions from a seminar held on March 14, 2024, including insights from key players like PayPo, PKO BP, and the Credit Information Bureau (BIK). The publication focuses on: BNPL Evolution and Success: Originating in Sweden, BNPL has transformed global online shopping, offering deferred payment options as an alternative to credit cards. Poland's BNPL market, still in its infancy, shows rapid growth due to firms like PayPo, Twisto, and Allegro Pay. Comparison with Credit Cards: Unlike credit cards, BNPL offers simpler, targeted transactions that resonate with younger demographics and more women. It avoids the complexities and high fees associated with traditional credit cards, fostering higher adoption rates. Polish Market Dynamics: By the end of 2023, nearly 2 million Poles had used BNPL, representing 12% of active borrowers. PayPo leads the market with innovative features, while PKO BP introduces seamless banking integration for deferred payments. Challenges and Growth Potential: Despite its success, establishing a universal BNPL business model remains challenging. However, its consumer-centric approach signals continued growth, especially as it aligns with modern purchasing behaviors. The report provides a nuanced understanding of how BNPL reshapes financial landscapes, blending fintech innovation with traditional banking.
Author’s articles
Agata Górny

Over the last dozen years Poland became an immigration country. The 178th mBank-CASE Seminar proceedings is devoted to this process – from various perspectives.

The data speak for themselves. Immigration provides significant support for the Polish labour market. Poland is facing a rapid population decline. According to projections by the Ministry of Finance in 2022, by 2030 the population of Poland could decrease from the current 37.75 million to 36.6 million, and by 2050 to 34.1 million. The percentage of people of working age will decrease, while the elderly population will increase.

Immigration may provide a solution to this problem. In 2022, around 100,000 people from Belarus arrived in Poland, most of them actively participating in the labour market. In addition, there are 1.2 million Ukrainians who stayed in Poland after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is therefore necessary to develop a long-term immigration, education and social policy to retain immigrants and integrate them into society and the labour market. This is what eminent experts who have been researching migration processes for years write about in the first two chapters of these Notebooks: Dr Maciej Duszczyk, as well as Dr Agata Górny and Dr Paweł Kaczmarczyk, from the Centre for Migration Research, operating within the University of Warsaw. The third chapter is devoted to the situation of female domestic workers.

Table of Contents

Ewa Balcerowicz – Introduction p. 5-6

Maciej Duszczyk – Chapter 1: Factors and conditions in Poland’s transformation into an immigration country p. 7-14

Agata Górny, Paweł Kaczmarczyk – Chapter 2: Immigrants and war refugees from Ukraine on the Polish labour market: opportunities and challenges p. 15-33

Jan Bazyli Klakla – Chapter 3: In the Shadows. Ukrainian Domestic Workers in Poland p. 34-44

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