Are foreign workers really better than Hungarian employees?

A recent statement by Sándor Czomba, Hungary’s State Secretary for Employment Policy, sparked significant debate within the Hungarian labour market. Czomba claimed that foreign workers “outperform” their Hungarian counterparts, igniting discussions about the implications of such a statement. Melinda Mészáros, President of LIGA Trade Unions, acknowledged some truth in the claim but stressed that Hungarian workers should not face threats from their employers because of this.

The context of Czomba’s remarks was positive experiences with Filipino workers, who are described as diligent, committed, and often overqualified for the manual labour roles they occupy. This led to questions about whether foreign workers indeed contribute more to Hungarian production compared to local employees.

Company perspectives: Foreign workers perform better

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According to Pénzcentrum, recent research highlights that although workplace turnover has decreased, many companies still rely heavily on foreign workers. Respondents in the study did not deny that guest workers often outperformed their Hungarian colleagues. Companies cited a lack of sufficient and high-quality local labour, lower and more predictable turnover due to fixed-term contracts, and the superior performance and resilience of foreign workers as reasons for this preference.

However, employing guest workers is not without challenges. According to Katalin Csikós-Nagy, fluctuation management expert, Managing Director of HR-Evolution Ltd., language barriers necessitate translators and multilingual materials, complicating processes and organisation. Cultural and religious differences also require training for leaders and integration programs for employees. Moreover, employing foreign workers can be costly due to the need for housing and catering provisions.

Threats to Hungarian workers

Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

Melinda Mészáros of LIGA Trade Unions explained to Pénzcentrum that companies often prefer guest workers because they work long hours, frequently overtime, and rarely take time off. This is largely because their families remain thousands of kilometres away, eliminating the work-life balance issues common among Hungarian workers. Filipino workers, in particular, come to Hungary solely to work and send money back home, which companies find appealing.

However, this preference for foreign workers has led to threats against Hungarian employees. Mészáros noted instances where middle managers have threatened Hungarian workers with termination if they did not match the productivity and dedication of foreign workers. Although this practice is unacceptable, it has not yet led to significant conflicts between Hungarian and guest workers.

The reality of foreign workers

An HR specialist, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed to Pénzcentrum that companies often find production more efficient with Filipino workers. These workers rarely take sick leave, do not miss work, and are free from family distractions, making them more efficient than their Hungarian counterparts. Many guest workers come with at least a secondary education, making them quicker to train and more effective in their roles.

The preference for Filipino workers can be attributed to intergovernmental agreements that facilitate the export of labour as a significant source of national revenue for the Philippines. Similar situations have been seen with Ukrainian workers in the past, who also tended to be better qualified than local workers. The dire economic conditions in their home countries drive many to seek work abroad, even at great personal cost, such as leaving behind young children for extended periods.

Conclusion

Experts agree that foreign workers, primarily from the Philippines, are often better trained, faster, and generally considered better employees than their Hungarian counterparts. This situation has led to unacceptable practices where Hungarian workers feel threatened by the possibility of being replaced by guest workers.

Read also:

• Everything you need to know about guest workers in Hungary
• Foreign workers needed to save Hungarian agriculture?