In 2021, the Czech Republic was unable to fill the 40,000 quota allocated for work cards for Ukrainians
Czech universities are in high demand among Ukrainian youth, so the consulate also processes hundreds of student visas. Economic issues have to be addressed against the backdrop of the current political situation – the threat of aggression against Ukraine from Russia. How noticeable is this in the west of the country? Journalist Radio Prague discusses this and many other topics with David Nový.
– Can you say that you have settled into the position? During this time, you have already visited several regions.
– I have been working at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Lviv for about four months. I believe I have settled in quickly and successfully. This region is familiar to us Czechs, and it is interesting to work here, so in Ukraine, in Lviv, I feel at home.
– Lviv is essentially the "labor gateway" to the Czech Republic for Ukrainian citizens. As far as we know, the consulate accepts applications under several employment programs?
– Yes, the consulate in Lviv serves as the gateway or main point for submitting applications for work cards. For Ukrainian citizens, there is a special program called "Qualified Worker." Through this program, applications are submitted and processed by the Ministry of the Interior. If approved, such visas are issued and affixed into passports.
– As far as we know, the program allocates three categories of workers: key, highly qualified, and simply qualified. What is the difference?
– The main program covers qualified workers. Within one year, 40,000 work cards can be issued. This is done through so-called guarantors in the Czech Republic, through the Economic Chamber. Through these guarantors, Czech companies that hire Ukrainian citizens join the program. Citizens who enter the program apply for a work card. By the way, last year the quota was not filled – only about 30,000 applicants entered the program.
– How do you explain that? In previous years, the programs were fully filled with applicants, and the quotas were even insufficient. Moreover, Lviv received the most such applications. Is the current situation related to COVID?
– Perhaps it is related to COVID, or possibly to the interest of Czech companies. The question is where to find workers? I don't know how many workers are left in Ukraine who are ready to come to the Czech Republic. It all depends on Czech employers and Ukrainian workers – whether they are interested in each other.
– In which sectors do people most often apply for work? Is it factories and plants? Which professions are most in demand?
– Workers are accepted in all sectors of industry and agriculture. This includes various construction sites – in construction professions for manual labor, it is very difficult to find Czech workers. However, there is interest in all sectors, including agriculture. For the agricultural sector, there is a separate program – a long-term emergency visa issued to representatives of certain professions. Here, the state quota is 1,500 applicants per year. By the way, it is also not filled, but interest has been increasing in recent months.
– There is also the "Highly Qualified and Key Workers" program.
– These are also two state programs. They are aimed at employees coming for better-paid work. These are specific professions – top managers, IT, researchers. Of course, there are fewer of them than in the "Qualified Worker" program. I should note that these two programs are implemented through our consulate in Kyiv, not through Lviv. The consulate in Lviv handles agricultural workers, the "Qualified Worker" program, and seasonal visas.
A graduate of Moscow State University, at the beginning of his diplomatic career David Nový worked at the Czech embassy in Moscow, later served in Tashkent, and for many years was the director of the visa department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Ukraine, by his own admission, Mr. Nový has already fully familiarized himself with the situation, supports various economic and cultural projects, and visited Transcarpathia in December.
– In the past, we wrote about the problems faced by those wishing to obtain a visa through the VisaPoint system when submitting applications. There were problems caused by an abundance of intermediaries that no one could handle. These were Ukrainian intermediaries – as we found out, there were no blockages on the Czech side. Has the system changed now? Is it easier to do?
– The system has changed, simplified, and intermediaries almost no longer exist. They are not needed for Ukrainian applicants, and for Czech companies they are unnecessary. The system is structured so that intermediaries no longer put anyone in the queue – neither in Lviv nor in Kyiv do people have to wait on the street, because all applicants are entered into the queue system in the Czech Republic. This applies to both qualified and highly qualified workers, as well as researchers. Here, in the Czech Republic, there are guarantors – companies or the Ministry of Industry, which enter applicants into the system and set their order. Thanks to state programs, the activity of intermediaries has been limited.
– Do Ukrainian citizens then have to reapply for a visa at the consulate, or does the extension no longer fall under your competence?
– There are two directions. You can apply for a two-year work card, which is extended by the Ministry of the Interior in the Czech Republic. Such issues no longer concern the consulate. Many people do that. It's no secret that Czech companies are very satisfied with Ukrainian workers – we need them. The second direction is Ukrainians coming for three months. It's enough to get a Schengen work visa for 90 days. For those who don't want to go for two or three years, it's enough to arrange entry for a season, for three months. Then these people return to Ukraine. Last year, we issued almost 200,000 such visas in Lviv and Kyiv.
– Probably, in this case, we are talking mainly about seasonal workers? For harvesting?
– Again, these are people of different professions, but indeed the three-month visa is used by those who go to harvest or work in forestry. These people are also very useful for the Czech Republic, as unemployment in our country is the lowest in Europe.
– The next aspect is students; the Czech Republic actively attracts them to study. If you already know these numbers, tell us, what flow passes through your consulate? And where are young Ukrainians heading? Or maybe Czech students study at some Ukrainian universities?
– In the regions of Western Ukraine, Czechs generally do not study, but on the part of Ukrainian kids there is a great interest in going to the Czech Republic, primarily for preparatory language courses, in order to later enter Czech universities. Czech higher education institutions are very popular among Ukrainian students, so they submit many applications for long-term student visas. Last year, 400-500 applications were submitted in Lviv. I think in Kyiv – even more. They are interested in various professions, so it's hard to say which university receives the most Ukrainians. Some want to study medicine, some are interested in technical professions, some intend to enroll in the Faculty of Philosophy.
– Probably, Charles University still leads in numbers, as it can accommodate the most students?
– Of course, it is the most famous and very popular university, which has good preparatory courses. Many Ukrainian kids go to these courses, primarily to learn the Czech language. As you know, studying in the Czech language in our country has a great advantage – it is free.
– Almost free...
– Almost free, and many therefore try to learn Czech. Since visa issues are quite complex and confusing, I recommend to everyone – students, entrepreneurs, workers – for arranging studies, work, or a tourist trip, not to hesitate and contact our consulate directly by email. We answer all questions and are always happy to help, advise the correct way.
– You have already visited different regions of Ukraine, probably met with representatives of the Czech minority. What are your immediate plans, say, for the next six months?
– There is very interesting work – organizing business missions, regional cooperation between the regions of the Czech Republic and Transcarpathia, in which Vysočina and Pardubice Region are interested – their representatives often and regularly come to this area. We are preparing various exhibitions, presentations at universities – in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk. In May, we hope to hold a meeting of entrepreneurs from various regions of the Czech Republic and Western Ukraine. There is a lot of work ahead, and we hope that the covid situation will not hinder us.
– Now Ukraine is practically every day in the news feed. The situation is very difficult. To what extent do Ukrainians you meet in Lviv feel the threat of possible aggression from the Russian Federation? We know that intensive negotiations are currently underway on this matter. How acutely is this perceived? Or is western Ukraine farther away and living calmly?
– Good question. It's not easy to answer. If you don't read the news, don't know what is happening in Russia, then Western Ukraine lives calmly. Of course, people discuss what might happen, but Ukrainians have been living in a situation of threat for many years, since 2014. I like how calmly and pragmatically they approach this situation. Of course, we are prepared for everything, but we hope that there will be neither escalation nor invasion of Ukraine, and the issue will be resolved through diplomatic channels and through negotiations at the highest level. A person constantly thinks about what might happen, but life does not stop. I, like everyone else, very much hope that no actions from Russia against Ukraine will be taken.