The Dutch newspaper I am subscribed to, De Volkskrant, is currently organising an intriguing online discussion forum together with the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza. This month readers of both newspapers are asked for their opinion about some themes that affect both the Dutch and the Polish in ther daily lives. Theme number one, of course, concerns free access to each other's labour market. Check out http://www.vk.nl/neighbours for the results so far.

It's immediately obvious from the reactions from both sides that there are a lot of misunderstandings and prejudices between the Dutch and the Polish. Just like many other countries the Netherlands seems to be afraid of an 'invasion' of Polish people that are willing to work at much lower salaries than the native Dutch. So far this did not happen and it does not look like it will happen now that our borders have been opened a bit more. And even if it does, who can blame the Polish for doing jobs that most Dutch do not even want to do? As long as they and their employers stick to the rules including job safety, I do not see much reason to block access for Polish workers. If anyone could be blamed, it would be those employers that think they can let the Polish do anything they want for the cheapest price imaginable. So it's a good thing too that the Dutch labour unions are telling the Polish workers about their rights and about which working circumstances we consider normal in the Netherlands.

A ironic comment from one of the Polish discussants: because the Polish economy is currently growing faster than the Dutch, he foresees a labour migration of many Dutch people to Poland! Let's see how the Dutch will be welcomed there if this happens some day...