Jobs exodus - Prosperity is not our natural right

POLAND, as depicted in the series of articles in today’s Irish Examiner, is very reminiscent of Ireland in the 1950s.

As such, it is not only a reminder of the deprivation that the Polish people suffered as a consequence of the communism that impeded their economic progress for so long, it is also a gauge of our economic improvement in the past half century.

Ireland and Poland have long had much in common, but we should realise that we have no natural right to the standard of living we currently enjoy.

We have to earn it, and we should realise that there are millions of people scattered around the globe who would jump at the chance.

Wages in Poland are only about a sixth of those in this country. Hence Polish people have been coming to work in Ireland.

Lodz, the second largest city in Poland, has lost about 10% of its population to emigration since the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989. It has now begun attracting industry from this country.

About 280 jobs from Procter & Gamble cosmetics and toiletries plant in Nenagh will be transferred there in about 18 months’ time.

Dell is due to open a new plant in Lodz with a workforce of 3,000 people. The city has not only low-cost labour but also an educated workforce, similar to this country. Irish firms are building the infrastructure for Dell, so it is actually helping to generate Irish employment.

Lodz is not currently a real threat to Irish jobs, but it could be some day.

We should appreciate what we have and realise we need to work to keep it.