In the Shadows. Ukrainian Domestic Workers in Poland

Publications

2 Nov 2023

Labour, Migration and Social Policies

Agnieszka Kulesa

Jan Bazyli Klakla

Marianna Zarychta

Agnieszka Kulesa

Lead Social Sciences Researcher
Dr Agnieszka Kulesa is the Lead Social Sciences Researcher at CASE. She supports business development and oversees and contributes to research and analytical projects. Having joined CASE in 2018 as an economist, she served as Vice-President of the Management Board from 2021 to 2024. Agnieszka has authored or co-authored numerous publications, including peer-reviewed articles and reports for European institutions such as the European Commission (EC), the European Parliament (EP), the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Articles from this author:
- Migrant workers coming to Poland from other European Union member states. Barriers, difficulties, and possible courses of action
- Capacity building for local and regional authorities in the light of the Ukraine Facility (Pillar III)
- Exploring the Entrepreneurial Potential of Belarusian Migrants in the EU
  This Working Paper aims to deepen the understanding of Belarusian migration to the EU, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship among Belarusian migrants.
Author’s articles
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:
Author’s articles
Marianna Zarychta

Eastern Partnership Specialist
Marianna Zarychta graduated from sociology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. She also studies Social Change Management at the Jagiellonian University. Marianna completed her internship at the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolskie Voivodeship in the team for European Union projects. She carried out research for the RMF Group in Krakow, and for the Institute of … <a href="https://case-research.eu/publications/in-the-shadows-ukrainian-domestic-workers-in-poland-2/">Continued</a>

Articles from this author:
- Exploring the Entrepreneurial Potential of Belarusian Migrants in the EU
  This Working Paper aims to deepen the understanding of Belarusian migration to the EU, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship among Belarusian migrants.
- A review of sustainable leadership practices
  This Good Practice Review is a part of the “EmpowerHer: Female Leadership for Sustainable Development” project funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The project aims to promote and introduce good Nordic practices related to sustainable development and education for sustainable development in the Baltic countries.

We are pleased to present our report, “In the Shadows: Ukrainian Domestic Workers in Poland,” developed in collaboration with CARE International, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social inequality. The research focuses on a frequently overlooked topic – the domestic sector and excluded female emigrants working as domestic workers. We conducted our study in three significant Polish cities: Krakow, Warsaw, and Wroclaw.

Our report is the result of a comprehensive approach to the subject. We gathered information through various means. We conducted numerous interviews with domestic workers in the mentioned cities and carried out an online survey.. We also conversed with employers, non-governmental organizations’ representatives, and public administration officials.

As a result of our research, a full picture of the domestic sector in Poland emerged. It turns out that there is a lack of appropriate legal regulations and secure solutions. Many domestic workers in Poland operate illegally, often due to the inability to secure contracts with their employers. There is also a noticeable difference between individuals who arrived in Poland before the 2022 war and those who came after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It manifests in a more friendly and welcoming treatment of individuals who arrived after the invasion. People who were here earlier experienced much worse treatment.

Nevertheless, amidst these challenges, there is a chance for improvement of this situation. The Domestic Workers’ Union has been established, an initiative led by Ukrainian women. This union is open to all domestic workers, regardless of their background. They are actively working to improve their rights and legal regulations in the domestic sector.

We encourage you to read the full report, which contains detailed analyses and conclusions regarding the domestic sector in Poland. Its examination will help you understand the challenges that domestic workers face and the changes needed to improve their situation. This report reveals the domestic sector as it is and as it should be in the future.

Client: Foundation CARE International in Poland (“CARE”)

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In the Shadows. Ukrainian Domestic Workers in Poland

Agnieszka Kulesa

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Jan Bazyli Klakla

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Marianna Zarychta

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