According to Dmitry Tolmachev, in the spring of 2014, Russian companies became more active, wanting to save on salaries. For relatively little money, they sought qualified Ukrainian engineers, food industry technologists, production managers and experienced sales managers, hoping that the war in Donbas and economic problems would prompt Russian-speaking Ukrainians to move to Russia in search of work.
However, due to unfavorable working conditions, escalating confrontation and the economic crisis in both countries, interest in cooperation has waned among both Russian employers and Ukrainian job seekers. Ukrainian specialists who are already employed in Russia are also returning home, unable to come to terms with the hostile attitude towards their country and the rampant propaganda in the Russian media. But, according to Dmitry Tolmachev, residents of border regions of Ukraine and Donbas who have no alternative continue to go to Russia for work.
The majority of unemployed Ukrainians are seeking their fortune in Western countries. Ruslan Sklyarenko from Poltava worked on a construction site in Kursk Oblast until December last year. Now he is gathering documents for a trip to a construction site in Poland. 'I'm not saying that ordinary Russians have a biased attitude towards us Ukrainians, let alone a hostile one. The majority understands who is actually fighting in Donbas and why. But I constantly felt discomfort working in a country that started a war against mine. After receiving the promised $2,400 for three months of work, I decided to return. Now I'm going to Poland, where they are already waiting for me in a construction crew. They are offering practically the same money, but I think it will be easier mentally there.'
Poland is becoming a work Mecca for Ukrainians. 'We have the most Polish vacancies on our portal. Everyone is needed – from janitors to managers, including staff for both seasonal and skilled work,' Tatyana Pashkina, content manager of the portal Rabota.ua, tells «Focus». Mainly, Poland needs construction workers, engineers, laborers, domestic staff, long-haul truck drivers, and the like.
In particular, Polish employers are looking for a cook for a home-style restaurant, a gardener under 40, seamstresses with at least a year of experience, an electromechanic on an assembly line up to 45, workers for façade insulation, female workers for porcelain production, and others. They all are offered a rate of 8-10 zlotys per hour, which, under full-time employment, corresponds to earnings of 350-450 euros per month. Long-haul truck drivers from Ukraine with experience in EU transport have more interesting prospects: in Poland they are promised 1-1.3 thousand euros.
Among other countries where Ukrainians most often go for work, the recruitment agencies surveyed by Focus name Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, Israel, the United States, Canada, and the UAE. Traditionally, Ukrainians abroad work in the service sector (drivers, nannies, cooks, gardeners, cleaners, maids), trade (sales assistants, sales managers), industry (workers, engineers), and seasonal agricultural work (harvesting, fishing).
To be continued.
Maria BABENKO,
«Focus»