Polish Airlines Lose Their Experienced Pilots To Poland's Competitors

Poland's state owned airlines LOT is losing its experienced pilots. They are joining the hundreds of thousands of Polish people taking employment in foreign lands because of low pay in Poland.

The exodus of people from Poland continues. With the Government focusing on getting even with old communists, criticising gays and destroying the opposition political parties, talented workers not waiting for conditions in Poland to improve and are going West where they are finding living conditions and pay much better than in Poland.

The Minister of Labor has said that there is a critical labor shortage in Poland. The shortage in that sector is so bad that the Government is looking East for replacements. Severe labour shortage in Poland with unemployment down to 13%

The labor shortages most often cited relate to the construction industry. In light of the pressure put on the Poland to prepare for the Euro 2012 football championships, this gets particular attention. Poland's Prime Minister To Replace Polish Emigrants With Chinese And Indians

But shortages exist in other sectors. They do not yet affect as many businesses to be getting significant media attention. And because the wages in these sectors are controlled by the Government, the Government does not make much mention of shortages that it can cure by raising the wages and improving work conditions.

There are reports of large numbers of police leaving Poland for the West. Poland is said to be becoming a training ground for police forces and security agencies in Europe. See Polish Police leaving for better pay

And then doctors and nurses are leaving with projections for an increase if they do not settle the current strikes for wages. They are currently getting a lot of attention as they strike. But little is being said about how many are leaving. See Poland Is Short Doctors As Polish Medics Emigrate For Opportunity

Pilots are also leaving.

In the past couple months about 30 experienced pilots have left the Polish airline LOT to work for competitors. And they are difficult to replace.

Polish pilots take home pay is 4 to 6 thousand zloty per month. They are leaving for jobs that will give them 15 to 25 thousand zloty per month.

Lufthansa needs 300 pilots and Rynair about 1000. Each are making offers to Polish pilots.

Polish pilots at LOT have long had a reputation of being some of the finest pilots in the airline industry. Many of them are accomplished sailplane pilots and among the very best in the world.

The departure of this talent for foreign carriers will have a definite affect on LOT and Poland.

Source: masterpage.com.pl