Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure PL-2022-9/2314 – measures in Poland
Country | Poland , applies nationwide |
Time period | Temporary, 24 February 2022 – 24 August 2023 |
Context | War in Ukraine |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Measures to prevent social hardship
– Other humanitarian measures |
Author | Jan Czarzasty (Warsaw School of Economics) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 18 May 2022 (updated 20 June 2022) |
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. As a result of Russian aggression, many Ukrainian refugees fled to Poland.
On 12 March 2022, the special act regarding Ukrainian refugees entered into force, with effect from 24 February 2022. Its aim is to provide assistance to Ukrainians escaping the territory of Ukraine due to armed conflict.
Every Ukrainian refugee, who entered the territory of Poland from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 and plans to remain there, can obtain UKR status and the PESEL number from local authorities (gmina). Usually, the PESEL number is individually assigned to each person born in Poland, who is a Polish citizen or, in certain cases, also to foreigners who legally reside in Poland.
In order to apply for the PESEL number, refugee needs to present a document with a photo to confirm their identity. In exceptional circumstances, a number can be assigned solely based on a declaration. In the case of persons deprived of legal capacity, the application may be submitted by a legal guardian.
PESEL numbers allow Ukrainians in Poland to continue their education, work, set up and run a business on the same terms as Polish citizens, receive social benefits and use all the services of Polish e-administration. If Ukrainian citizen decides to leave Poland for a period exceeding one month, they will be deprived of their legal status.
According to the statistical data published by the Polish government, on 17 May 2022 there were 1,107,970 registered application for the UKR status due to the conflict in Ukraine. UKR status allows to legally reside in Poland and obtain PESEL number. 45.4% of applications were submitted by females between 18 to 65 years old and 46% by children below 18 years old.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Does not apply to workers | Does not apply to businesses |
Migrants or refugees
|
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Local / regional government |
No special funding required
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Unknown | Unknown |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
Unknown.
Unknown.
Citation
Eurofound (2022), Social security numbers and residence for Ukrainian refugees, measure PL-2022-9/2314 (measures in Poland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/PL-2022-9_2314.html
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30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
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ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.