Polish workers protest against French bosses

Warsaw workers have turned the tables on France with angry Thursday protests over sliding workplace standards imposed by Gallic bosses in Poland.

French concerns over EU enlargement and plans to liberalise Europe’s services sector have focused on lower labour standards in countries such as Poland.

Since EU enlargement, France has become the biggest foreign investor in Poland with a strong presence in catering, telecoms, electricity distribution and the media.

But reversing European stereotypes, over 800 Polish workers protested outside the French embassy in Warsaw yesterday.

The workers in French-owned companies claimed bosses sack staff arbitrarily, push down wages and fail to invest in new facilities.

“The behaviour of French investors in Poland has disappointed our hopes,” said a letter written by Polish trade unions.

“Instead of the promised capital support, bringing in new technology, training workers, creating new professional development, French investors are enforcing a policy of limiting investment and mass lay-offs.”

Polish trade unionsts have accused the French of double standards and 'social dumping' in Poland.

"We want to initiate discussion like in France, where there is great debate when French staff are dismissed," said a protester.

"But when Polish workers are sacked by French companies in Poland nothing happens."

The French ambassador fuelled angry protests during which missiles were thrown at the embassy.

“The complete lifting of restrictions for Poles wanting to work in France is unlikely before 2009,” he told Polish radio.

Paris was among EU capitals which imposed tough restrictions on free movement of people when ten new countries joined the EU in May 2004.

The measures - aimed at placating anti-immigrant sentiment - caused much resentment in new EU member states.

Dire predictions of mass migration of poor and AIDS infected workers to 'old Europe' were widespread before enlargement but failed to materialise.

Bitter French controvresy over the proposed EU Services Directive has also often taken an anti-Polish form.

The "Polish plumber" has for many French people assumed a bogeyman status as low cost, low standard, Eastern European labour.

• Previous article
• Next article