Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the Polish government has adopted a draft law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens due to an armed conflict in Ukraine. The special act guarantees financial support for Poles accepting families from Ukraine – PLN 40 per day, i. e. 1.2 thousand PLN per month, for two months.
The Minister of Family and Social Policy, Marlena Maląg stated that any people who cross the Polish border with Ukraine need first support. After appropriate registration, they can obtain one-time support in the amount of PLN 300.
She added that the act grants legal residence and access to work for Ukrainian citizens in Poland and reminded that access to work in Poland also legally means access to family benefits, including up to 500 plus.
The minister pointed out that mainly women with their biological or fostered children come to Poland from Ukraine. In order to organize care for children up to three years of age, local governments will be able to decide on the creation of additional nursery care places to be used by children from Ukraine.
A special act also guarantees support for Poles who host families from Ukraine – PLN 40 per day, i.e. about 1.2 thousand PLN per month. It will be paid for two months. The money will be directed to people who accepted refugees from Ukraine through local governments.
The prime minister also announced the creation of a special-purpose reserve, which will be distributed by voivodes to local governments implementing the objectives set out in the context of the special act.
“Local government bodies will receive financial support to implement any additional tasks in the access to, for example, the education system or the health care for children and adolescents”, said Morawiecki.
Mariusz Kamiński, Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration emphasized at the press conference that this special act will be the legal basis for the stay of Ukrainians in Poland.
He explained that the government is introducing the principle that crossing the border during an armed conflict, registering the crossing by the Border Guard, gives these people from Ukraine the right to stay legally for 18 months in Poland, with the possibility of extension, if the situation requires it, for another 18 months.
Kamiński emphasized that the government also wants such people to be able to work legally in Poland, have access to health care and that minors can benefit from education. To sort out this situation, each refugee from Ukraine will receive a PESEL number, which will allow him to use a number of public services in Poland, including the creation of a trusted profile or legal establishment of companies.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński