
The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively mild in Poland. Even though the darkest scenarios did not materialize, various social and economic consequences had already emerged during the spring lockdown, only escalating over time. The pandemic has revealed and exacerbated processes and issues that had been simmering for years, sometimes decades. Scratches and cracks in the structure of our social contract, the pains of our economic reality. Inequalities and irregularities in the labor market, further exclusion of social groups, ambiguous regulations affecting entire sectors of the economy and increasing information noise. These issues, insufficiently addressed or outright ignored by the Polish government even before COVID, continue to surface as the pandemic develops and may perpetuate social and economic inequalities.










The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively mild in Poland. Even though the darkest scenarios did not materialize, various social and economic consequences had already emerged during the spring lockdown, only escalating over time. The pandemic has revealed and exacerbated processes and issues that had been simmering for years, sometimes decades. Scratches and cracks in the structure of our social contract, the pains of our economic reality. Inequalities and irregularities in the labor market, further exclusion of social groups, ambiguous regulations affecting entire sectors of the economy and increasing information noise. These issues, insufficiently addressed or outright ignored by the Polish government even before COVID, continue to surface as the pandemic develops and may perpetuate social and economic inequalities.



Krzysztof Czarnecki, an apple farmer, in his warehouse in Bronisławka, Poland, on Oct 07, 2020. Foreign workers, mostly from Ukraine, have been essential to large scale farmers in Poland for several years. Closing of the borders, part of COVID related restrictions, disrupted free movement of people and threatened farming operations all across the country. "We struggled to find enough workers, the system is just not sustainable". Eventually, last minute changes in legislation and quarantine regulations were made to accommodate large agricultural producers.

Farmhands from Ukraine are beeing driven through apple orchards in Magierowa Wola, Poland, on Oct 08, 2020. Foreign workers, mostly from Ukraine, have been essential to large scale farmers in Poland for several years. Closing of the borders, part of COVID related restrictions, disrupted free movement of people and threatened farming operations all across the country. "We struggled to find enough workers, the system is just not sustainable". Eventually, last minute changes in legislation and quarantine regulations were made to accommodate large agricultural producers.




