Summary
The article discusses the challenges faced by Latin American migrant workers in Poland, focusing on their experiences of abuse and exploitation by employers. It highlights a specific incident where a worker was threatened with a gun by an agency representative. The situation reflects broader issues with temporary work agencies and legal changes aimed at improving migrant workers' conditions in Poland.
Key Facts
- Latin American migrant workers in Poland report abuse and exploitation.
- Rocio Flores, a Mexican worker, was threatened with a gun by an agency representative in Poland in August 2023.
- The confrontation occurred over extended work hours and unpaid wages at a chicken processing plant.
- Temporary work agencies began recruiting from Latin America due to changes in the workforce, with Ukrainians previously filling many roles.
- As of June 2025, Poland requires migrants to apply for work permits from their home countries.
- Over 4,000 work permits were issued to Colombians in 2022, increasing to nearly 38,000 by 2024.
- Some agencies fail to secure work permits, leaving migrants undocumented and vulnerable.
- There are concerns about similar exploitation risks among migrants from other regions, like Bangladesh and the Philippines.
