Moods of Ukrainians who have worked abroad

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01.02.2017

Moods of Ukrainians who have worked abroad

According to a study conducted by the Rating Group among those who have worked abroad during the last five years, the majority (77%) went for seasonal work, only 15% worked on a permanent basis, and 7% had other types of employment.
One third of respondents worked abroad this year, one quarter last year, while one in five did so five years ago.
Almost one third (31%) stayed abroad for work for about half a year, 21% for several months, 15% for more than one year, 14% for up to one year, 14% for several years, and 5% did not answer this question.
Among those who worked in EU countries, there were slightly more people working on a permanent basis than among those who worked in Russia. Women and respondents with higher education also more often worked on a permanent basis.
Most respondents worked in Poland (36%), followed by Russia (25%), 5% worked in Czechia and Germany, 3% in Italy, while the rest worked in other countries, mainly in Western Europe. Almost 30% refused to answer this question.
Among residents of the West and Center, most worked in Poland, while in the South and especially the East, most worked in Russia.
Among those who worked abroad, almost half worked in construction and repairs (43%), about half as many (23%) in agriculture, 10% in household work, and 3% each in IT, childcare, and the restaurant business (cooks, waiters, cleaners). 2% each worked in the hotel business, as office workers, and as medical staff. 1% each reported working as cleaners and in personal services (hairdressers, masseurs, technicians).
Most people who worked in construction did so in Russia, while those who worked in EU countries were more often employed in agriculture and domestic work.
Most respondents were satisfied with their earnings while working abroad (19% very satisfied, 62% rather satisfied). Dissatisfaction with earnings was highest in the East of the country.
18% of respondents personally encountered fraud in Ukraine when arranging official documents for employment abroad, 78% did not, and 4% were undecided.
31% personally experienced a mismatch between promised employment conditions and the actual conditions received at their workplace abroad, 58% did not, and 11% did not answer.
35% worked abroad officially, 61% unofficially, and 4% did not answer.
The largest share of officially employed workers abroad was among migrants from the East (44%), and the smallest from the South (27%). Among those who worked in the EU, there were twice as many officially employed (36%) as among those who worked in Russia. Older respondents and those with higher education were more often officially employed.
More people who experienced a mismatch between promised and actual working conditions were found among men, older respondents, and those who worked in EU countries.
Among the problems most often encountered while working abroad, respondents mentioned the language barrier and a sense of being treated as second-class (both 27%). 22% reported lack of a contract with the employer, 18% each mentioned poor living conditions and problems with medical care. 13% reported unpaid overtime, 11% experienced refusal of payment, 8% faced nationality-based discrimination, 6% had problems with law enforcement, and 2% encountered extortion or crime. At the same time, more than a third (38%) said they had no problems while working abroad.
A sense of being second-class (33%), language barrier (39%), and problems with medical care (30%) were the most common problems among those who worked in the EU, while among those who worked in Russia, the main problem was poor living conditions (30%), followed by lack of a contract (27%). More than half of those who worked in Russia had no problems, while among those who worked in the EU, only 30% reported having no problems.
The majority (71%) of migrant workers would like to work abroad again in the future, 11% would rather not, 5% would definitely not, and 13% were undecided.
The largest number of respondents would like to work in Germany (23%) and Poland (22%), about 10% in Italy, the USA, and the UK, 6–7% in Czechia and Russia, and 18% were undecided.
Respondents most often need help with finding a job (32%), obtaining a visa (28%), and medical care (25%). Less urgent needs include adaptation to living conditions in another country (20%), protection of human rights abroad (18%), legal consultations (15%), negotiations with potential employers (13%), finding housing (13%), assistance with arrival at the place of residence or work (12%), and insurance (10%). 9% said they need no assistance, and 7% were undecided.
Among those who worked in EU countries, more people would need help with obtaining a visa, adapting to living conditions, and legal consultations. Among those who worked in Russia, more people would need help with medical care and insurance.
Among those who worked unofficially, relatively more people would need help with finding a job and negotiating with employers, while among those who worked officially, more would need help with medical care and legal consultations.