Find foreign currency income: How Ukrainians find work in the EU and how much they are paid

There is a significant staff shortage in Poland, and employers often have problems finding workers for simple physical work. The high production season has already started, there are many offers on the market, but it is difficult for companies to find work. writes about this Focus in his new material “Work for Ukrainians in the EU. How do employers hire refugees and will there be more offers?”

Experts cite the ban on Ukrainian men traveling abroad and the simplification of Ukrainian citizens’ access to labor markets in other EU countries as the reasons for personnel shortages in Poland. Last time Ukrainians willingly take advantage of all employment opportunities in Europe, traveling primarily to Germany. Experts say the reasons for this include attractive social benefits and high salaries that allow savings to accumulate.

Despite the active migration of Ukrainian refugees to Europe, Polish employers are most interested in hiring workers from Ukraine, according to the international job search site Jooble. The neighboring country is still the leader in the number of vacancies: there were about 5,300 in the third quarter. Although the average monthly salary offered is around 7,000 zlotys (1,570 euros), Ukrainian drivers, for example, can expect a salary of 9,000 zlotys. 12 thousand zlotys (2-2.5 thousand euros).

According to the EWL Migration Platform, a large number of job offers are offered in the logistics sector in Poland: Due to the upcoming Christmas holidays, many vacancies are open in the packaging and sorting of goods. Employers also offer simple physical jobs in the electronics, food and processing industries. The minimum rate is 21-23 gross zlotys (4.70-5.15 euros) per hour. You can get 4-4.5 thousand zlotys (about 900-1000 euros) per month.

However, the average earnings of Ukrainian refugees working full-time in Germany is 2,550 euros. According to statistics The average salary in the country is almost 4 thousand euros, but it is difficult to earn such an income without knowing German..

Comments Vasily Voskoboynik, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies Focus He said that to find a job in Europe, as in Ukraine, you can use three main directions:

• contacting local employment services or job centres;
• announcements on social networks, media, bulletin boards;
• contacting local employment agencies.

The expert also says it’s important to remember two things.

• First, the applicant should not pay for information about the vacancy. In Europe, as in Ukraine, taking money from job applicants is prohibited at the legislative level.“If you are offered to pay to get a job, 99 percent of the cases are scams, the rest are so-called “gray companies” operating on the edge of the law.“, noted Voskoboinik.
• Secondly, the expert says that in no case should you find illegal work. When an employer offers employment without official registration, it means that he does not intend to create decent working conditions and is not responsible for social protection and safety in the workplace. Therefore, in case of illness or work accident, for example, the employee will have to rely solely on his own strength. According to the expert, accepting such conditions threatens not only the health but also the life of the employee.

Let us remind you that new and simplified procedures for refugee employment will begin to be implemented in Germany in the near future. The country’s government has prepared changes that will allow the integration of refugees, including Ukrainian citizens, into the German labor market much faster.

As I wrote before FocusAlthough the European Council has extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2025, many European countries plan to reduce payments to refugees in order to encourage them to work.