‘Why we need to work?’: German authorities want to employ Ukrainian refugees, but many of them are not enthusiastic about it

For Ukrainian refugees in Germany, the situation may deteriorate rapidly in the near future. Local authorities have set the goal of quickly integrating refugees into the workforce and reducing their reliance on social benefits.

It’s important to note that the social benefits for Ukrainians in Germany are among the best in Europe. Ukrainian adults receive a monthly payment of 520 euros, and children receive 360 euros, in addition to housing and utility costs, which amount to at least 500-600 euros per month at market rates. So, on average, a Ukrainian woman who fled to Germany at the beginning of the conflict with her two children receives approximately 1200 euros per month and has a rent-free apartment, which can also be furnished with the help of social assistance.

With such financial support (and possibly some source of income in Ukraine), there is little incentive for refugees to seek employment where they would earn only slightly more. However, the German government aims to change this situation.

“Anyone who has completed an integration course to learn the German language should gain work experience and further qualifications as quickly as possible,” stated the German Ministry of Labor.

They plan to launch a fast-track program for the employment of Ukrainians. First, local employment centers will more persistently offer Ukrainians job opportunities, and they will need to check in regarding their job search every 4-6 weeks. Second, German officials are pressuring employers to hire refugees more actively. As Labor Minister Hubertus Heil explained, his department, in cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency, is taking measures to expedite the integration of Ukrainian refugees, including convincing employers to hire refugees even if they don’t speak German fluently yet.

But the question remains whether Ukrainian refugees want to work in Germany.

According to Vasily Voskoboinik, the head of the All-Ukrainian Association of International Employment Agencies, many Ukrainian refugees are asking themselves, “Why work?” “Germany offers one of the best conditions for refugees: there are financial benefits, social housing, and free healthcare. Many refugees, even after learning the language, are in no hurry to seek official employment. Instead, they look for unofficial jobs that allow them to maintain their social benefits and earn an additional 1,000 euros as supplementary income,” says Voskoboinik.

However, this situation clearly does not satisfy Germany, where there is a shortage of around 2 million workers. Another option that is currently being discussed as a rumor is the reduction of benefits for those who haven’t found employment within a specified period.

At the same time, the German economy is in dire need of labor. Therefore, efforts are being made to engage Ukrainians. The most significant shortages are in the fields of drivers, locksmiths, child care specialists, builders, automotive engineers, pharmacists, and machinists.

“There is a mismatch between the demands of German employers and the offerings from Ukrainian refugees. The majority of those who left Ukraine are women, many of whom have higher education. It’s not guaranteed that they can find employment, for example, in the field of engineering. However, there are industries that are more willing to hire refugees, such as the hotel industry, logistics (warehouse work), the service sector, and caregiving, among others. The challenge is that these job opportunities often do not align with the professions of Ukrainian refugees. Many of them lack the language skills required for their field (integration courses provide language learning up to level B1), and, in many professions, they need to have their diplomas recognized. Nevertheless, the reality is that people will have to lower their expectations and take jobs that they are capable of doing,” says Voskoboinik.

Last year in Germany, refugees were extensively re-registered. Instead of relying on social services, they were transferred to the care of employment centers. There, Ukrainians filled out questionnaires detailing their professions, diplomas, and more. Then, they were left alone for a while. However, as soon as people complete their integration courses, the employment centers become active again, offering them jobs and urging them to find work on their own. Curators from the employment centers need to be updated on the progress of the job search every month or so.

“I finished my courses in August. After that, I was offered jobs twice by the employment center. The job options included being a chambermaid at a hotel, working on a farm during harvest season, and working as a general laborer in a greenhouse. I am a doctor by profession, and honestly, these offers shocked me, so I declined them. I plan to improve my language skills up to level C1, prepare for a qualification exam, and have my medical diploma recognized. But my employment center advisor tells me that I can continue language study even while working, so I need to actively search for something, even if it’s not in my field. Otherwise, the question of reducing social benefits might come up. I don’t know how much longer I can resist the employment center’s offers. My consultant said that I will have to accept the next offers from the job center or find work on my own; otherwise, I will lose my benefits and social housing,” said Ivanna, a Kyiv native now living in Hamburg.

The German authorities are tightening their employment requirements for Ukrainian refugees, largely due to public opinion pressure. However, many Ukrainian refugees are not currently motivated to work.

“I have one question: why work? The average salary in Germany is 2500 euros. After deductions and taxes, along with rent, about 1000 euros are left. But you have to work five days a week, pay taxes, and so on. Germany itself encourages social benefits. Why go to work when the difference in income between a working person and someone receiving social benefits is 500 euros? It’s insulting for a working person. Some people go to work every day, while others do something unclear,” expressed a Ukrainian woman in a TikTok video.

Some other Ukrainian refugees share similar sentiments.

“I was offered a job as a cleaner for 1680 euros. After taxes, I would have 1200 euros left. However, minus the 520 euro benefit and the cost of rent, which is at least 300 euros, and try to find affordable housing. What do I gain? Less than 400 euros. Plus, I would have to work 8 hours a day, whereas now I can spend my time as I please,” said Yulia, a resident of the Poltava region, now living in Dresden.

Since the beginning of the conflict, approximately 1.1 million Ukrainians have moved to Germany, with over half of them being of working age. However, currently, only about 197,000 people are employed, with 42,000 of them in jobs that do not require contributions to social insurance (temporary or minimum wage jobs).