Poland issued some 30k work permits for foreigners in 2009, up by almost 60% from 2008, the daily Parkiet writes citing a report by the employment agency Agencja Zatrudnienia.

This is in addition to the 189k workers from East European countries, employed basing on separate laws.

Close to 25% of foreigners were employed in wholesale and retail, while a further large part worked in industry, financial services and real estate.