The main conclusion of the new report of the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) on social and integration assistance for asylum seekers (pre-integration) and recognised refugees (integration) is that the help is insufficient, does not allow an independent live after a transitional period and therefore, consolidates the consideration of Poland as a transit country by the majority of refugees.

The audit revealed that foreigners granted international protection in Poland usually do not know Polish language and have serious difficulties in finding adequate accommodation and a permanent job. They partially depend on social assistance and to earn a living, they take up temporary jobs.

According to the report, there is a lack of consistency in the activities undertaken by the Office for Foreigners (UdSC) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MPiPS). Although these institutions have a common goal – integration of refugees – they act on the basis of two different legal acts (Act on granting protection – UdSC, and Act on social assistance – MPiPS). NIK points out that integration programmes should be a continuation of pre-integration actions, and that they should be closely coordinated.

According to the recommendations of NIK, there is also an urgent need for:

• Creating a coherent, continuous and motivating Polish language learning system;
• Implementing solutions that would allow allocating social housing to refugees;
• Effective professional inclusion, with the full use of refugees’ skills;
• Monitoring of the situation of foreigners after the completion of integration programmes, which would allow better evaluation of the effectiveness of the support being provided;
• A significant reduction of the average waiting time for a decision on refugee status.

Read more (in Polish)