Viral posts about salaries of up to 10,000 francs, easy work on farms and free houses in Swiss villages can create a false impression about relocation. Blogger Bohdan Tovkalo explained why these promises do not correspond to reality and what Ukrainians should pay attention to. He reported this on TikTok.
What salary Ukrainians can receive in Switzerland
On social media, the average salary in Switzerland is often cited — about 6,500 francs, or almost 350,000 hryvnias. But this figure does not mean that every worker will receive that much, especially a migrant who has recently arrived.
“This amount does not concern us at all, Ukrainians who moved to Switzerland as refugees or emigrants. We will not receive such an amount here. For us, the average salary in Switzerland will be 3,500–4,000 francs,” Tovkalo stated.
According to him, people with local education and qualifications can count on a higher income. The real salary depends on the profession, experience, language skills and the right to work. Even a large number of vacancies does not guarantee quick employment: for example, the country is looking for construction workers for tens of thousands of vacancies, but employers’ requirements and rules of access to the labor market remain important.
Why work on a farm does not guarantee a high income
Another myth is that Swiss farms recruit workers en masse, pay 7,000–10,000 francs and provide free housing. The blogger called such promises untrue and noted that in the local labor market there are enough people who spend a long time looking for work.
“On farms they pay completely different money from what you are told on the internet,” he said.
Therefore, before the trip it is important to check a specific vacancy: the amount of pay, the schedule, living conditions and official employment. General promises of easy earnings will not replace an employment contract and confirmation from the employer.
Do Swiss villages pay for relocation
Tovkalo also refuted popular stories about villages that allegedly provide foreigners with free houses and pay extra for relocation. According to him, this is not a general program for Ukrainians.
“There are no villages here that will accept you, provide free housing and will also pay for relocation,” the blogger emphasized.
Conditions of protection and employment can also change: in particular, Switzerland has updated the rules for obtaining status S for Ukrainians. Therefore, the decision to relocate should be made after checking current requirements and specific offers, and not on the basis of viral posts.