Czech farmers can hire 1500 Ukrainians
As reported by Radio Prague, the project is aimed at workers from Ukraine who are to help fill vacancies in agriculture. It is intended for those who would like to work in the Czech Republic for more than six months but not more than one year. According to the provisions of the project proposed by Minister of Agriculture Marian Jurečka, no more than 1500 Ukrainians will come to the Czech Republic.
Farmers and food producers who would like to employ workers from Ukraine can join the project until January 1, 2018. However, before that, they must offer the vacant position to the central register of vacancies for Czech workers as well. They must also provide evidence that they have employed at least three people in the Czech Republic over the past two years and paid taxes in the Czech Republic. One of the conditions is also that Ukrainian workers are employed directly by employers. Thus, intermediary employment agencies cannot participate in the project.
First, the company selects a specific employee in Ukraine, then sends a request for their inclusion in the project to the Agrarian Chamber, the Food Chamber, or the Agricultural Union. Then a decision is made on whether the company can participate in the project.
The future employee obtains the work card independently at the Ukrainian representation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also participates in the project, which will negotiate with the representation in Ukraine.
The first phase of the "Ukraine Regime" project was launched by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Since then, the Economic Chamber has reviewed more than 1000 applications from companies concerning 6404 Ukrainian workers. Another approximately 1300 Ukrainians were brought to the Czech Republic by the Confederation of Industry and Trade.
"So far, a third of the employees have started work," said Miroslav Diro, spokesman for the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic. He explained that some Ukrainians decide to work in Poland, which issues work visas much more easily, where the entire procedure takes several weeks. Some of them then end up in the Czech Republic, but outside the project, being employed through agencies.
Representatives of the Agrarian Chamber had previously reported that during the season, the Czech agricultural sector experiences a shortage of 15 thousand people.