Foreigners replace Hungarian workforce in Hungary
The Hungarian government launched a billboard campaign during the 2015 migration crisis, asserting that residents of third-world countries couldn’t snatch jobs from Hungarians. However, a reversal is now unfolding, caution trade unions, as foreign workers increasingly replace Hungarian counterparts across various sectors.
Despite Prime Minister Orbán and his government consistently linking migration supporters to terrorism, Hungary’s reliance on foreign labour shows an unstoppably upward trend.
Experts attribute this to structural issues within the Hungarian economy. Productivity stagnated in recent decades due to government backing of low-added-value investments such as car manufacturing and battery production. As Hungarian companies and workers integrated into the production chain at lower levels, high salaries became elusive. Consequently, numerous highly qualified and diligent Hungarians sought employment abroad, resulting in a significant labour shortage. Foreign workers began entering the Hungarian market en masse to fill this void.
Recently, the South Korean Bumchun scandal unfolded, where Hungarian workers were dismissed to make way for Vietnamese replacements, despite substantial government aid for the investment. Similar incidents occurred in Gyöngyös (B. Braun) with workers from the Philippines, and allegations emerged against the Continental plant in Makó, where supposedly 150 guest workers arrived from Indonesia, Szeretlek Magyarország wrote.
Read also:
- Asian guest workers flood Hungary but Chinese, Korean plants may never start operation – Read more HERE
- Companies in Hungary hunt for Philippines and Indonesians: they neither drink nor flee to the West – Details in THIS article
Unprecedented rise of xenophobia?
The typical pattern involves plant expansions utilising both Hungarian and foreign hired workforce, followed by the dismissal of Hungarian workers, facilitated by the flexibility of hired workers’ contracts.
Tamás Székely, chairman of a Hungarian workers’ union, highlighted instances where owners replaced Hungarian workers with foreigners, emphasising the detrimental impact on both plants and Hungarian workers. He expressed concern that such situations might trigger unprecedented xenophobia in Hungary.
Foreign workforce is not cheaper
Contrary to popular belief, employing foreign workers is not necessarily cheaper. Tibor Erzse, a labour expert, explained that it can be more expensive due to the need to provide housing, catering, etc. However, foreigners may be more motivated, working longer hours and accepting lower expectations regarding workers’ rights, safety and health protection.
Szeretlek Magyarország’s article contends that companies in Hungary find it more convenient to employ hired foreign workers, given the ease with which they can be dismissed. Moreover, the perception that foreigners work more efficiently and complain less facilitates the substitution of Hungarians with foreign workers, even in the medium term. While the government theoretically prefers the employment of Hungarian workers, thorough checks are often lacking.
Statistics indicate that 150 thousand Hungarians have signed contracts with temporary work agencies, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue affecting many Hungarian families.
Radical right-wing opposition advocates for a reconsideration of Hungary’s economic policies
The opposition party Mi Hazánk is strongly advocating for a profound reconsideration of Hungary’s economic policies.
János Lantos, the party’s labour spokesman, underscored this call during a press conference on Wednesday. Drawing on data that compared real household incomes between Hungary and Poland, revealing Hungary’s comparatively disadvantaged position, Lantos attributed this situation to the privatisations of the 1990s. He argued that these privatisations positioned the country as a provider of “global big capital,” while the present government’s focus on achieving “battery superpower status” had led to a reliance on importing guest workers. Lantos emphasised the urgent need for establishing an independent Hungarian national economy centred on domestic manufacturing, and called for a heightened recognition of Hungarian workers, both in moral and financial terms.
Serious question, have any member of Fidesz mentioned something about this? How can they explain their rally against migration and suddenly go silent about this change? Fidesz supporters are being cheated again and again
He took to the micro-phone did Victor Orban, in front of thousands of Hungarians in Hero’s Square, speaking to all Hungarians, broadcast throughout Europe and into the Global World saying the past under Communism post the end of the Second World War is Dead.
He went on, that the Wall had fallen and we Hungary must EMBRACE the new way – the way forward under Democracy,
Orban went on our FUTURE is as a Democracy and we must function entirely as a country as a Democracy.
1989 to 2024 – Orban – what has he DELIVERED us ?
It is not a country Governed under DEMOCRACY.
The processes of DESTRUCTION undertaken by Orban and his Government, to STRIP away Hungary being a Democracy are EVIDENT for ALL to see.
The European Union his “modus operandi” – the United States of America and the United Kingdom know as does ALL country’s globally that are Democracy’s.
Orban has humiliated him-self personally and with the EU and with NATO and “buried” relationships with country’s that we Hungary had close association with some for over century’s.
Orban though has “sold us out” to Russia and China – that we KNOW are under Communistic Rule.
1989 to 2024 – Orban “singing” the praises of Democracy and move onto 2024 – RED is his FAVOURITE Colour.
Hungary we have a cataclysmic weakening economy, that sooner than later, it’s going to be representative of CHAOS.
The name Orban has HUMILIATED us – Hungary.
Come on now, let’s not play dumb here: There is a WORLD of difference between ILLEGAL aliens swamping the country vs. those coming here perfectly legally. Conflating and synonymizing the two is one of the Left’s favorite tactics, followed by smearing opponents of illegal aliens invading our towns and cities as “xenophobes,” “racists,” etc. This article is about perfectly LEGAL migrants. It is still a problem, that MUST be addressed, but it has nothing to do with Orban’s position and policies on illegal migration.
Concur – Steiner Michael.
Michael Steiner – the guest workers are legal because the government says they are. You’re right to point out that you cannot conflate the two forms of migration, but the government was supposed to be protecting Hungarians and their way of life. Inherent in this task would be avoiding subjecting them to mass migration of a cheaper and more pliant foreign workforce that results in the power of local trade unions ebbing away when trying to negotiate any real pay rises as well as subjecting local workers to intense competition. This runs completely contradictory to any assertion that Hungary is for the Hungarians.
They should work far harder in appealing to members of the Hungarian diaspora to return home, offering financial incentives to show that they’re serious about wanting them back. I fear however they don’t really want them back as they know that would involve a large rump of opposition voters returning to the country, influencing friends and family during debates in a manner that’s not favourable for the government.
Hungary should pick Indian people over Filipinos because we are the best workers.