On the second day of the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, a debate took place on the guidelines for Member States’ employment policies. PiS MEP Marlena Maląg took part in the discussion.
“I am pleased that the updated employment guidelines include many elements related to vocational education and training as well as new technologies,” said Marlena Maląg. She explained that this is particularly important in light of the labor and skills shortages in many industries. However, the Polish politician did not share the view expressed by rapporteur Li Andersson, who argued that migration is the answer to the market’s challenges. She stated that this is a shortcut. “For years, we’ve been hearing from the left that ‘skilled workers’ are sailing to Europe on boats, but we all know what the reality is,” she commented. She added that today, even those who have been inviting these “skilled workers” here for years are now closing the door on them. “That is why we need to invest in workers who are already in the EU labor market, promote modern vocational education, and improve working conditions in those professions where there is a shortage of workers,” the MEP pointed out. She also emphasized that education should be a priority, “because theoretical and practical knowledge is a vaccine against poverty.”
