UK: Recession Bites For Polish
Prayers for a polish woman at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish Church in, Bedford, UK.
Priest Grzegorz Aleksandrowicz at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish Church in Bedford, UK.
Prayer book of Ewa Allan, a member of the congregation, praying at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish Church in, Bedford, UK.
A member of the congregation, lighting candles at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish Church in Bedford, UK.
Ewa Allan, a member of the congregation, lighting candles at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish Church in Bedford, UK.
A third of Polish people living in Britain may leave the UK in 2009, driven out by the recession. Since 2004 when Poland joined the European Union, poles have flocked to Britain drawn by higher wages and better job prospects. Now the tide is turning and as the economy strengthens in their own country, the value of the pound is falling and many have already returned to Poland.
With the credit crunch and collapse of the housing market in the UK, some polish workers have become disillusioned with life in a country where they expected a better standard of living. Wages are still not as high in their native country, but the cost of living is up to 50% cheaper.
Despite the general economic gloom, the EC forecasts Poland’s economy to grow by nearly 4% in 2009.As job opportunities decline and wages fall in the UK, returning poles can look forward to better prospects at home.
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JR:
Nice work JR. I like the colors and the first shot is iconic.
Aloha, JB Cambodia
13 January 2009 at 2:15 pm