Why companies benefit from investing in training foreign workers

In 2025, foreign workers will make up an increasing share of the Polish labor market. According to the Polish Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, most foreign workers come from Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, India, Nepal, and the Philippines. Their contribution to the economy is constantly growing, but along with it, challenges for businesses are also increasing.

Companies face two key problems: the language barrier and team integration. Employers often think: "The employee will learn and adapt on their own," but practice shows otherwise — without company support, productivity decreases and employee turnover rises.

Language barrier – the main obstacle at work

• Misunderstanding instructions: mistakes at work caused by misinterpreting tasks can cost businesses a lot of money.
• Work safety: not knowing the language increases the risk of accidents, especially in construction, manufacturing, and logistics.
• Communication with colleagues: without knowledge of Polish, the employee feels isolated, which lowers motivation.

Solution: invest in Polish language courses for employees. This increases work efficiency, reduces errors, and makes it easier to adapt to everyday life in Poland.

Team integration — the key to long-term cooperation

• Cultural differences: different traditions, habits, and communication styles can create misunderstandings.
• Stereotypes and barriers: foreigners are sometimes perceived as “temporary workers,” which reduces their engagement.
• Feeling of isolation: if an employee does not feel like part of the team, they are more likely to look for another job.

Solution: create integration programs (team-building, mentoring, cultural days). This helps build a healthy corporate culture and reduces the risk of conflicts within the team.

Vocational training and standards – how it leads to faster productivity

Reducing adaptation time

• If an employee has not previously worked under Polish standards (assembly methods, safety measures, welding techniques, documentation requirements, reading technical drawings, etc.), without training they may need years to “catch up” to the required level.

• Structured training significantly shortens this “entry period”: the person comes not only with general skills, but with a clear understanding of what and how to do in the specific company environment.

Unification of work standards

• If managers, technical staff, or assemblers are trained according to the same standards, it greatly reduces mistakes, misunderstandings, and accidents.

• Training allows the company to set an internal “benchmark” for how the work should be done, instead of relying on each employee to gain experience on their own.

Safer work environment

• When an employee has completed occupational safety training (HEALTH & SAFETY), knows how to properly assemble/dismantle structures, or use welding equipment, the risk of accidents decreases.

• Fewer problems mean fewer downtimes, medical costs, fines, or reputational losses.

Increasing job prestige and motivation

• An employee who is not just “put to work” but also given the opportunity to learn, more often feels valued and skilled.

• This increases their internal motivation, responsibility for results, and willingness to grow within the company.

Opportunities for further development

• The company can build career paths: first a junior assembler → after some time and training becomes a skilled worker, mentor, or even a team leader.

• This allows the company to develop “its own” employee instead of looking for a new one each time.

Examples of Progresja 2021 courses — practical results

To not only talk about training but provide practice — Progresja 2021 offers two important directions that directly impact the speed at which foreigners reach productivity:

Kurs montaż i demontaż rusztowań budowlanych

• This is a professional free course in assembly and dismantling of construction scaffolding.

• The program includes:

  • different types of scaffolding and their applications

  • techniques of assembly, dismantling, and maintenance of structures

  • rules and practice of occupational health and safety (working at heights)

  • reading technical documentation, organizing, and supervising work on site

• After the course, the employee receives a European scaffolding installer certificate, recognized in EU countries, which opens up employment opportunities in various environments.

• Instructors are experienced, and the training site is professionally equipped — participants learn in real conditions, as close as possible to the workplace.

Impact on productivity:
An employee who has completed such a course immediately knows how to organize and carry out scaffold assembly/dismantling, following safety standards, and can quickly reach normal work performance — minimizing the “adjustment” time.

Kurs spawacza MAG 135/136/138 z certyfikatem UE

• This is professional upskilling or training “from scratch” for future welders.

• The program includes both theoretical parts (electrical engineering, materials science, reading drawings, preparation of welded joints, H&S standards) and practical elements (real welding of metal pipes and plates, quality control, defect correction).

• After completing the course and exam, an international welder’s certificate valid within the EU is issued.

• Advantages:

  • modern equipment in the training center, focus on practice, adaptation to group and company needs.

  • High employability: around 95% of course graduates successfully pass exams and then find jobs.

Impact on productivity:
A hired welder will not “learn on the job” through trial and error — they come with a clear set of skills that meet international standards. This reduces downtime, minimizes defects and welding failures, and allows for faster completion of planned work.

Economic benefits for business

• Reduced employee turnover: each replacement costs the company expenses for recruitment, training, and adaptation of a new employee.
• Increased productivity: a well-trained and motivated foreign worker is more efficient and stable.
• Better company image: employers who invest in staff development have a better reputation in the labor market, making recruitment easier.

Conclusion: training costs pay off quickly thanks to savings on recruitment and increased productivity.

Loyalty and long-term cooperation

• Employees who see that the company invests in their development value their workplace more.
• This builds mutual trust and motivates them to stay longer in the company.
• For business, this means stable teams that better understand the company’s specifics.

Investing in training foreign employees is not an “extra bonus,” but a business development strategy. Language courses, integration programs, and vocational training help companies achieve:

• lower employee turnover,
• higher productivity,
• a safer work environment,
• a positive image in the labor market.

A company that cares about developing its people benefits not only today but also in the long term.