The Ministers of Social Affairs and Employment of the European Union Member States summarised a broadly positive situation on Monday 13 March in Brussels regarding the degree of integration of Ukrainian refugees in their labour markets, and identified areas where Member States can still make progress, such as language barriers, access to childcare for Ukrainian mothers and certification of professional qualifications.
For the Swedish Minister for Employment and Integration, Johan Pehrson, while the necessary support for Ukrainian refugees will be provided for as long as necessary and the measures under the Temporary Protection Directive should be extended, it is also important to prepare these refugees for return to their country without losing their skills or qualifications.
The Minister did not rule out a “risk” that Member States would become weary of helping the Ukrainians and “give up”. “We need to take stock and discuss among ourselves how to restore peace”, but in the meantime we must continue to ask ourselves “how to facilitate the situation” of Ukrainian refugees in the labour market, he added at the end of the ministerial meeting.
In the presence of the Ukrainian Minister for Social Affairs, Oksana Zholnovych, the Ministers took stock of their measures for the professional integration and access to social benefits of the four million Ukrainian refugees who have temporary protection in the EU. One million of them are currently economically active in the EU.
While integration has been relatively smooth in some countries - such as Spain, where it has been “higher than expected”, or Denmark, where refugees can benefit from the “great flexibility of the labour market” - it has been more challenging elsewhere, such as in the Czech Republic or Bulgaria.
In the Czech Republic, the employment rate of these refugees is very low, and offers of integration or training are not necessarily taken up, as most refugees are planning to return to their country, said Minister Marian Jurecka.
In Bulgaria, the authorities are also struggling to establish contact with Ukrainian refugees clustered towards the Black Sea. For them, finding a job is much harder in remote areas than in big cities. “Only 10% of Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria work, despite the offers available” said Natalia Efremova.
Poland, the main host country for Ukrainian refugees, can in any case “still absorb a large part of the refugees in employment”, said Minister Marlena Maląg, even though 1.7 million Ukrainians are registered in the country. “Access to the labour market has been facilitated to integrate them” and efforts have been made to teach them Polish. The system of recognition of professional qualifications for certain regulated professions has also been made more flexible.
For Germany, the second largest host country in the EU for Ukrainian refugees, of which there are one million in the country, integration into the labour market has presented some initial challenges and increased the country’s unemployment rate. About 157,000 Ukrainians were in employment at the end of December, and 663,000 were receiving basic insurance. The country, like others, has relied on language courses and the recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications.
In Italy, the integration of Ukrainians into the labour market has taken place against a background of continuing concern about inflation, energy costs and the loss of competitiveness of businesses. The labour market is affected by this. Out of 170,000 people received in Italy, 27,000 are in employment.
The Commission will in any case continue to help Member States to help Ukrainian refugees into employment and training and to facilitate the recognition of their qualifications, while some of the refugees are “in sectors that are not suitable for them”, said the European Commissioner for Employment, Nicolas Schmit, during the public debate. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)