Journalist Dorota Bawolek is one of many Poles living in Shropshire. She meets a few of her compatriots working in the county and some for whom it's a real family experience. As well as the simple economic benefits, Dorota discovers that there's plenty to enjoy about life in Shropshire. Eastern Europeans have tended to plug labour gaps that have been traditionally difficult to fill, including dentists, carers, and plumbers. However, Dorota discovered that there is also a belief among some Polish workers that they're taken advantage of by employers looking for cheap, replaceable labour. | "The only thing I get from feedback from other hotels in the country... they are all very pleased with Eastern Europeans' attitude to work." | | Sebastian Sidi, hotel manager |
Poland is one of 10 states which joined the European Union in May 2004. Since then around 300,000 Eastern Europeans have been coming over the UK to find work in a wide variety of jobs. Britain along with Ireland and Sweden opened up its labour markets to workers from the new member states, while many other EU countries set strict restrictions. Some have cited Britain's open policy as responsible for a far greater influx of workers than initially expected. However, a report published by the EU in February 2006 claims that new workers have led to economic growth without increasing unemployment. All labour boundaries will have to be removed by 2011 and some older EU states are choosing to open up their markets ahead of this deadline. | 
