Ukraine opens labour market to foreigners

Ukraine has announced that it is preparing simplified entry procedures for foreign workers. This was announced by the head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, who emphasised the acute shortage of staff in the country.

Announcement of entry facilitation

Head of the Office of the President Kirill Budanov said that Ukraine is working to simplify entry rules for foreigners. The reason for this decision is the labour shortage that has been growing in recent years. According to Budanov, the government is already holding consultations with representatives of other countries to attract workers.

The last meeting was held with representatives of African countries. They discussed cooperation and potential mechanisms for employing foreigners in Ukraine. This is the first step towards opening up the labour market to foreign nationals.

States of «migration risk»

The list of countries considered to be a source of migration risk currently includes about 70 states. These include Asian countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Pakistan. Citizens of these countries may be subject to additional verification procedures.

Budanov did not specify what control mechanisms would be applied to citizens on this list. However, the government stresses the need to balance security with the needs of the labour market.

Reasons for opening the labour market

According to official data, Ukraine is facing an acute staff shortage in various sectors of the economy. This was a key factor in the development of new immigration rules. The government sees attracting foreign workers as one of the ways to solve this problem.

A similar initiative has been discussed before, but the process has now accelerated due to the growing demand for labour. The detailed terms of the simplification have not yet been made public.

Further steps of the government

The next stages of the reform include the development of clear criteria for foreign workers and the identification of the industries that need the most staff. The government plans to continue consultations with international partners to ensure transparency of the process.