2024-05-04 08:26:38
The war has been raging in eastern Ukraine for two years. 1.1 million Ukrainian war refugees currently live in Germany. But only one in five works. The rest collects citizen’s benefit and unemployment benefit.
There are a shortage of employees in almost all industries in Germany. 716,000 of Ukraine’s refugees are of working age. Means between 15 and 65 years old. Only 21 percent, i.e. 113,000 Ukrainians, have jobs subject to social security contributions, and 36,000 have a mini-job.
Why not the rest? BILD asked Ukrainians all over Germany: Why aren’t you working? These are their answers.
The Ukrainian Marharyta (27) with her seven-year-old son in Stuttgart
Marharyta Timofieiera (27) with her son (7): “The benefits we receive from the social welfare office are very good and we feel comfortable in Germany. At some point I would like to look for a job too.”
My husband sends me money from Ukraine
Anastasiia (31) with son Stefan (1): “Soon I will get a childcare place for him, then I can go to language school. And then I would like to work as a pastry chef once more. My husband stayed in Ukraine – he works there and sends me money as often as he can.”
Anastasiia (31) from near Kiev lives with her son Stefan (1) in Stuttgart; her husband works in the Ukraine and sends her money from there
Working isn’t worth it
Yurii Kudrinskyi (40) from Poltava: “The German job center only offers me simple jobs with low pay. I’ll be honest: it’s not worth it! I don’t have the motivation for that. Because if I worked at Amazon or other companies for 8 or 9 euros net per hour, I would have to pay my rent, electricity and water myself. Then there would be too little left over compared to the 563 euros in citizen’s money that I receive without any deductions.”
Yurii Kudrinskyi (40) has found accommodation in Erfurt
Vitalii Ovasapov (42) from Kherson: “I understand that the opinion in politics and society in Germany has changed and I should go to work. But for that I have to really learn German first. Combining language courses and work is difficult.”
Vitalii Ovasapov (42) lives as a refugee in Erfurt
We still need a language course
Veronika Titikowska (41) from Czernowitz has lived in Halle with her children (9, 13) for two years and is waiting for a language course. “I’m looking for a job as a saleswoman, preferably in a supermarket or grocery store like in Ukraine. Because of the children, I can only work part-time.”
Veronika Titikowska (41) lives in Halle
Accountant Swetlana (50) has lived in Halle (Saxony-Anhalt) since March 2022, financial economist Serchii (53) since November 2022. “We would like to work in our professions, but for that we have to speak perfect German and need another language course for that. “
Accountant Swetlana (50) and financial economist Serchii (53) are refugees in Halle (Saxony-Anhalt)
The same obstacle for Valentina Zelenina (40). She came with her two sons (15, 11) in April 2022, her husband is in Ukraine: “I have two degrees: surveyor and public administration. But the job center keeps sending me to language courses. They say I can’t work without a C1 qualification.”
Valentina Zelenina (40) is waiting for a German course to be placed
There are no mini-jobs in my industry
Diana (26) has a master’s degree as a software developer and mathematician: “I had to wait four and a half months for the B1 language course, then four and a half months for the B2 course.” She completes it every day until June. “It often depends on the advisor at the job center as to whether you can take another language course.” She would already like to work part-time. “But there are no mini-jobs in my industry.”
Diana (26) came to Hanover immediately following the outbreak of war
I will not be approved for any further language courses
Yuliia (38) has been living in Hanover with her son (12) and daughter (13) for six months. She has two degrees in economics and marketing and a diploma as a project manager. “I want to go back to my job, but the job center won’t approve any further language courses.”
Yuliia (38) has been in Hanover for six months
Degree not recognized, must do new training
Olena (48) studied economics and would like to work in a commercial office in an office. But she narrowly failed the B1 language test. Now she has to repeat the course first. She came to Germany two years ago.
Olena (48) is a refugee in Hanover
Olena (43) is a social worker who studied for a year at a private university during her four-year training. But this qualification is not recognized in Germany, even though she had her diploma translated. She worked as a kindergarten teacher in her hometown for 14 years and would like to do the same in Hanover. “Now I have to do another two-year training course.”
Olena (43) has no chance on the German job market without new training
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