Poland is preparing new rules for Ukrainians: from restrictions on payments to tighter control
25 August 14:48
Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a law that would have extended social benefits to Ukrainian citizens staying in Poland because of the war. The changes will primarily affect those refugees who do not have official employment.
This was reported byOnet, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
In an address published on social media, Navrotsky said that in more than three and a half years since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, Poland has provided shelter to a significant number of Ukrainians, but “the situation in the field of finance and public sentiment has changed significantly.”
“The law on assistance to citizens of Ukraine that I received does not include the amendments that were discussed in public. I do not change my mind and intend to fulfill my obligations. I believe that only those Ukrainians who accept the challenge of working in Poland should receive the 800 program,” the President emphasized.
The current law, which he rejected, provided not only for the continuation of social benefits but also for the extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2026.
At the same time, Navrotsky promised to submit an updated draft law, which, according to him, will take into account a number of innovations.
In particular, the document will provide for
- new rules for obtaining Polish citizenship,
- stricter penalties for illegal border crossing,
- provisions aimed at “stopping Banderism”.
Separately, he said that the draft will propose to equate the symbols of the OUN-UPA with Nazi symbols, which has already provoked a sharp reaction among experts and may become the subject of international debate.
Thus, Ukrainians who do not work in Poland risk losing their right to social benefits, and Warsaw’s refugee policy is becoming increasingly stringent.
How assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Poland has changed since 2022
Poland has become one of the main countries that has received the most Ukrainians since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to the EU, at the peak of the crisis, there were more than 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens in the country, and it was Warsaw that was the first to pass a special law to support refugees.
2022.
- Ukrainians were granted the right to legally stay and work in Poland.
- The state provided access to healthcare and education.
- The social program “500” (later “800”) was introduced, which also covered Ukrainian children.
- Polish families who hosted refugees received compensation from the government.
2023.
- Warsaw began to gradually limit its support: in particular, compensation for Poles for hosting Ukrainians was reduced.
- Requirements for refugee employment increased.
- The topic of Ukrainian integration and the financial burden on the budget became one of the key issues in Poland’s domestic policy.
2024.
- Temporary protection of Ukrainians is extended until March 2025.
- The government more clearly stated that social benefits should be linked to work.
- Public discussions on whether Ukrainians should retain access to the 800 program on equal terms with Polish citizens become more frequent.
2025.
- President Karol Navrotsky vetoes a law that would have extended social assistance and temporary protection until 2026.
- The government plans to limit access to these benefits to Ukrainians working in Poland.
- New initiatives have been announced: stricter penalties for illegal border crossing, changes in the citizenship procedure, and a controversial provision on “fighting against Banderism.”
Thus, while at the beginning of the war Poland was one of the most reliable havens for Ukrainians, now social support is becoming selective and increasingly dependent on the economic activity of refugees.
