Vikipeedia:GLAM/Estonia-Poland relations/10

Story 10

Polish workers in Estonia[muuda lähteteksti]

According to W. Ziemlevicz, the head of the Polish National Association, there were about 1,500–2,000 Poles in Estonia in 1930, most of whom came to Estonia before or during the First World War as masters and workers. Nevertheless, the economic and commercial relations between Poland and Estonia was still in its infancy.

Estonian-Polish economic relations began to improve in the 1930s, behind which can be seen coincidence of several favourable circumstances. Firstly, a trade agreement was signed between Poland and Estonia in 1928, the lack of which had hindered the development of relations. On the other hand, the Great Depression in 1929 forced the current Estonian economic relations (e.g. with Western Europe) to change. Lastly, countries from Finland to Poland sought to improve both political and economic relations with its neighbors between the two world wars to strengthen their security. Although at political level the attempt failed, it can be said that economic relations improved successfully until 1939.

Furthermore, the Estonian economy began to grow strongly in the second half of the 1930s. The need for labor force increased both at the national level and in more prosperous farms. At this point as well can be seen the coincidence of two aspects: the growth of agricultural production (which in a way was caused by the actions of the state) and urbanization. So the state was facing a problem: how to solve the growing labor force shortage?

After long discussions and correspondence with Poland, Latvia, and other international counterparts, the State Elder of Estonia Konstantin Päts signed an agreement between Estonia and Poland on the use of Polish agricultural workers on December 8, 1937, as a result of which several thousand Polish workers came to Estonia. Latvia has had the relevant experience already, so especially her assistance was expected. The Schengen Area was still a distant future and the border crossing was not as easy as it is today. Thus, Estonians and Poles also had to agree on transport issues with neighboring countries.

With regard to Polish agricultural workers, the agreement of the Estonian Agricultural Workshop has been preserved, which was issued in parallel in both Estonian and Polish. It defined the terms of the contract, such as working hours, wages, insurance, and welfare.

But what was special about this agreement? It stipulated that Polish workers could not be paid less than local workers. In addition to the salary, the employer had to offer free of charge a "compliant and warm apartment" and a "bed with a bag filled with clean hay or straw". The employer was also obliged to pay travel expenses and medical care if needed. In addition, Poles were laid off for example on Polish public holiday days on May 3 and November 11. Estonian employers also had to take into account the traditions and holidays of the Polish Catholic Church.

Whether there was a real need for additional labor force is a question. For example, the newspaper Tööliskoja Teataja wrote in August 1937 that “the leaders of our farmers do not hide so much that there is no shortage of workers /.../. A. Jürman, the chairman of the Agricultural Workshop, said overtly at the last general meeting of the Agricultural Workshop that the introduction of Polish agricultural workers has served its purpose as it helped to diminish the salary demands of agricultural workers.”

Sources[muuda lähteteksti]

Eesti Põllutöökoja Leping (available on DIGAR).
National Archives Photo Database.
The National Archives of Estonia.
Uus Eesti, no 53, p. 124. 23 February, 1939.

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