Poland launched a campaign today to bring home millions of young people who have emigrated to Western Europe in search of better paid jobs, threatening to undermine their homeland's economy.
An estimated two million Poles have left since the country joined the European Union in 2004, seeking higher wages and better living conditions. Over 63,000 are now living in Ireland, according to Census 2006.
The exodus has caused a labour shortage in Poland. That has driven wages sharply higher and fanned fears that inflation could rise and that an economic boom could stall.
The issue has also become a hot topic ahead of a parliamentary election on October 21st, with opposition parties accusing President Lech Kaczynski and twin brother Jaroslaw, the prime minister, of doing nothing to help young people return.
"Our goal is to convince most of these people to come back to Poland," the president told a news conference. "The young people who are abroad will be encouraged to return because there are also opportunities for them here."
He also said the government would work on a package of new legislation to support the comeback.
Polish officials fear those who emigrated will settle down and raise children abroad, abandoning plans to return.
Polish central bank policy-makers, who have raised the main interest rate three times this year to 4.75 per cent, fear the tight labour market will push wages higher and fuel inflation. Wages rose 10.5 per cent in the year to August, the fastest for seven years.