Labor migrants to be allowed out of Ukraine, but employers must provide contracts, health security

The Ukrainian Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, on commission of the prime minister, is working to coordinate organized departure of Ukrainian labor migrants for seasonal works in other countries.

These measures are part of the overall process of relaxing quarantine restrictions being gradually introduced by government, reads a statement by Vadym Prystaiko, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

“The Government certainly counts on Ukrainians who have been working abroad recently to help in our country's development. We are aware that we cannot offer the most active part of this workforce the European level of wages, but we won't create artificial obstacles," Prystaiko said, adding that the official coordination envisages a number of important circumstances that should be taken into account by foreign employers:

Read alsoPoland sees acute shortage of labor force, mulls charter flights for Ukrainian seasonal workers

"We see this the following way: whenever possible, [there has to be] a centralized appeal of governments who want our citizens to work in their countries. We also expect guaranteed official employment for at least three months to ensure that the arrival and departure of these groups will be as coordinated and organized as possible; it may be by charter flights. Observation and other necessary health security measures shall be provided both in the host country and in Ukraine, upon their return. We also expect an adequate level of social insurance, first of all, medical insurance, and a decent level of living and wages. We expect that this process will be as transparent as possible, without unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. We can apply modern digital technology," Prystaiko emphasized.

The vice PM assured that active consultations with international partners and passenger carriers (primarily air carriers), are underway, aimed to ensure proper coordination.

"I hope that starting next week this process will be organized and we will embark on communication with those concerned groups, associations, as well as employees, who seek to get to work abroad," Vadym Prystaiko said.

As reported earlier, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal on April 29 authorized the deputy PM for European and Euro-Atlantic integration alongside the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to coordinate the issue of establishing the possibility to organize the process of Ukrainian nationals for seasonal work abroad amid quarantine restrictions.