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Understanding the Return Migration of Polish Workers in Ireland

Explore the factors influencing Polish migrants' decisions to return home from Ireland, considering economic, social, and cultural perspectives.

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Understanding the Return Migration of Polish Workers in Ireland

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  1. Why do Polish Migrants return? Kevin Quinn

  2. Background/Literature Review/Statistics • The Research Question • Research Design • Methodology

  3. Background Recent mass migration into Ireland Major Social, Economic, Cultural and Political Phenomenon

  4. Definition Migration can be described as the movement of people from one part of a country to another or from one Country to another. Its study can be multidisciplinary and cover Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, History and Political Science. (‘every act of migration involves an origin, a destination and an intervening set of obstacles’, Lee, 1966)

  5. Many Economic and Sociological • theories exist offering • explanations regarding individual • migration decisions • ‘string of separate, generally unconnected theories, models, • conceptual frameworks and empirical generalisations rather than a cumulative sequence of contributions.’ (Arango,2000) • Economic theories include • Dual Labour Market Theory which examines structural conditions in the receiving country. The receiving countries determine the nature and origin of migration/migrants…and, migrants often have to take jobs that natives refuse. (Piore,1979)

  6. Migration Theory, ….Contd. • Neoclassical economic theory (Sjaastad 1962; Todaro 1969,Borgas,1966) is related to the global supply and demand for labour. • World Systems Theory - Capitalism; Move from ‘poor countries’ (Third World) to developed 1st World Countries. (Wallerstein, 1974) • Circular migration – maximising economic advantage while minimising psychic cost (Constant and Zimmerman, 2007, Favell, 2008) • Return Migration – Migration is planned as temporary (Dustmann and Weiss,2007, Borgas and Bratsberg,1994,) • Chain Migration/Social network theory International differences in income opportunities, political conditions and immigration policies imply that incentives exists for some individuals to migrate to other countries. (Borgas,1989)

  7. Migration Theory, ….Contd. ‘Economics has by and large stuck to its quest for theoretical robustness and quantifiability, but at the expense of failing to incorporate more complex insights about social action’(Boswell, 2008) • Sociological migration theory involves a set of interpersonal relations in which migrants interact with their family or friends. Social networks provide a foundation for the dissemination of information as well as for patronage or assistance. (Haug,2008,Boyd,1989) • Interactions within social networks make migration easier by – • Reducing the costs of migration • Overcoming language barriers • Sourcing employment • Finding accommodation • Furthermore • Social networks promote ‘chain migration' (Boyd, 1989) • Presence of strong social networks at source discourage migration and conversely presence of strong social networks in destination encourages migration

  8. Integration as an example…… • Integration is understood as the process of inclusion of immigrants in the institutions and relationships of the host society. The question of integrating immigrants into a country is framed primarily at the level of the nation state. (Eurofound,2006) • Icall it colonizing: you start to live in a Polish colony, you don’t develop, you will only talk Polish, and get help from other Poles. I think that’s the minus of Polish community here that we colonise too much. So many people live in the colony and don’t have bigger ambitions than the whole group. (Polish male, 26, factory worker, From King O’Riain, 2008).

  9. An Apt Summary • Lee (1966), describes the process of migration as • Factors associated with the area of origin – • Economic/Social/Political • Factors associated with the area of destination - • Economic/Social/Political • Intervening obstacles – Distance/Legal/access to labour market • and residency • Personal factors (Sociological theory) • Social networks/ambition/ language development

  10. Relating theory to a real-life migration phenomenon, we therefore need to understand: • Poland - History, Culture, National Identity • Ireland - History, Culture, National Identity

  11. Turning to the Irish Situation….. ‘ Ireland will be atthe forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and social progress, within an innovation driven culture. The role of migrants is critical.’ (FORFAS,2006) It is important therefore that we understand what influences a migrants choice regarding settling or returning

  12. …..the Irish situation Economicand Employment Growth

  13. …..the Irish situation Economic and Employment Growth

  14. Immigration of A8 after Accession- A Socio Economic Phenomena PPSN issued to EU12 Nationals 2004-2008 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

  15. To Twenty-five….and then? 600k+ How far east?

  16. To Twenty-five….and then? 600K+ How far east? ?

  17. Immigration of A8 after Accession A Socio Economic Phenomena • 330,000 Polish migrants (DSFA, April,2009) • > half of all A8 Migrants (CSO NQHS,2009) • High Wages and Salaries (Minimum wage Poland €1.80/Irl €8.65, ILO,2008) • Positive attitudes in media (HE TadeuszSzumowski, 2006) • Little evidence of Racism or xenophobia

  18. Existing migration theory maybe very useful in explaining why people came • Labour mobility creates substantial welfare gains for migrants and their families (World Bank,2006; Todaro,1969) • There may be chain migration happening and social networks developing • The return of migrants in some cases may not be so easily explained…….bringing me on to the….

  19. The Research Question • Why Do Polishleave? • And arising from this- • Why did they come? • What were their expectations? • Have these expectations been met?

  20. Research Design • Abductive strategy • Qualitative Research • Interviews focussing on informants narratives (Possibly long interview) • +/- 30 in Poland and Ireland • Key informants profile is that of high skilled, English speaking and living and working (or who have lived) in Ireland for two years • Pre study pilot of interview guide

  21. Research Design…. Contd…. Flexible qualitative design, (Sarantakos,2005)

  22. My tentative hypothesis is that Polish were principally motivated to come to Ireland for Economic reasons but are returning to Poland for Sociological/Cultural reasons.

  23. Thank You!!

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