The Polish Cabinet has approved a new bill regulating the provision of social benefits for foreigners, a significant portion of whom are Ukrainians. The bill encompasses programs such as “800+”, “Good Start”, and “Active Parents”. This new document was developed in response to President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of the law on temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens. From now on, the right to social benefits will depend on employment and contributions to the Polish social insurance system ZUS, except in cases concerning parents of children with disabilities.
This is reported by Business • Media
Conditions for Benefits and the Position of the Polish Government
Prime Minister Donald Tusk clarified that the “800+” program and other benefits will continue to be available to foreigners who are officially employed or are in situations that objectively prevent them from working, such as caring for a child. In other cases, benefits will only be available to those who have an official job and pay taxes. According to Tusk, these changes affect all foreign citizens, but will have the greatest impact on Ukrainians.
“The changes will apply to all foreigners without exception, but primarily they will concern citizens of Ukraine,” emphasized Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Housing Crisis for Ukrainian Refugees in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, municipalities are reporting a severe shortage of accommodations for Ukrainian refugees. Currently, there are about 97,000 places available for their housing, most of which are already occupied, with around 300 more Ukrainians arriving each week. The main reason for this situation is the lack of available facilities. According to legislation, municipalities cannot refuse Ukrainians asylum, but sometimes they are forced to do so due to a lack of options, leading to legal disputes.
As a result, local authorities have appealed to the government to develop a long-term plan to address the issue and provide additional funding. The Ministry of Asylum and Migration is considering an option where Ukrainians with their own income would pay for housing or secure accommodation independently.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Bavaria has suggested repatriating some Ukrainians so they can contribute to the defense of their country. This primarily concerns those who do not have the right to legal residence or are not employed in Germany.
In the Czech Republic, a record reduction in the employment gap between men and women has been noted, made possible by the increase in the number of employed Ukrainian female refugees. A significant factor has also been the popularity of part-time employment among women.