Marek has already been living in Belgium for five years. He first worked for about four years with his own Polish company in our country, but since this year he has chosen to be a temporary worker through IMPACT. As a furniture painter, he provides the visual icing on the cake of, among other things, wardrobes, chairs, kitchen furniture, etc. A job he really enjoys.

Marek was born in Poland. In his homeland he gained a lot of experience as a furniture painter. But after 15 years, he felt it was time for a new challenge: he continued in the same profession but, like many of his fellow countrymen, moved to the UK to work in London, among other places.

About five years ago, Marek ended his British adventure. “I decided to come to Belgium and started my own company in Aartselaar. So I have been working in Belgium for a few years now, but only since 2021 as a temporary worker through IMPACT. Moreover: my contract as a temporary worker is actually my first contract as a worker in Belgium. As in Poland and England, I work as a furniture painter – among other things, tables, cabinets and so on. In this way I can build on the years of experience I’ve gained over the years and continue to improve my skills. I really enjoy the job.”

Marek feels at home in Belgium. “Compared to Poland, everything here is actually more to my liking: pay, working conditions and so on, but also life in general. In terms of character, I don’t notice so many differences between Poles and Belgians. I find Belgians nice and jovial. Everyone is friendly and always helpful. I also discovered that Belgium is a very diverse country: London was a great city, that goes without saying, but I also like the beautiful beach in Ostend, the history you can breathe in Antwerp or the war monuments in Ypres. And at least here you don’t drive on the other side of the road like in the UK (he laughs).”

Marek has no regrets about his decision to come to Belgium, but how did he come into contact with IMPACT? “After his time in England, he returned to Poland for a short time. He searched the internet for a new job. This led him to the Polish branch of IMPACT. “I stopped by the office in Gdańsk and was immediately warmly welcomed. Together with the Polish employees at IMPACT, we found a suitable job for me in Belgium.”

As soon as he got the good news, Marek was able to rely on the advice of Joanna, one of our experienced colleagues from Belgium. “From the very first moment I had a very pleasant contact with Joanna. She gave me full explanations about what was best to bring from Poland and so on. Since I arrived in Belgium, she still helps me when I have any questions or, for example, if I have a small problem with the apartment I live in. In short: she is always ready to help me, whatever question I have. And, not to be underestimated: we can speak Polish, which eliminates the language barrier and makes communication easier.”

Thanks to the good guidance, Marek is also enjoying himself off-duty. “On arrival I was able to move straight into a new and very clean apartment. I feel that the people at IMPACT don’t just think about the job, but show genuine interest in me as a person and how I feel. This has been the case since the application process and things have remained the same since I arrived in Belgium.”

Marek plans to continue working in Belgium for years to come. “It’s my first temporary job, but I love it. I also have no problem working on a temporary contract, one year in my case. If the employer is satisfied, he will definitely extend the contract. And maybe even offer me a permanent contract, which of course I will consider. I am very happy in every way that I chose IMPACT and Belgium and I can recommend other professionals to do the same.”