ABSTRACT
The topic of Polish migration to the Netherlands is hardly addressed, either in Polish or international scientific literature. Polish labour migration has become an issue of public concern in the Netherlands, though not in Poland. However, it is becoming increasingly urgent to take a closer look at the situation of Poles in the Dutch labour market in the light of European Union enlargement. This chapter explores whether the accession of Poland to the EU on 1 May 2004 and the lifting of the transition period by the Dutch government on 1 May 2007 has brought about changes in Polish migration patterns – in particular, their irregular aspects. According to the Labour Inspectorate Report (Arbeidsinspectie 2006), the evidence of irregular work, particularly in agriculture, which is ‘occupied’ by Poles, is relatively high. Further, the employment situation of Polish workers in Dutch agriculture is an example of how state classifications of migrants are reflected in everyday life. Thus, this chapter endeavours to answer the question of whether the classification of migrants into regular and irregular statuses makes a difference in social relations between employers and workers.
