Background information

The invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine resulted in a mass migration of civilians from Ukraine to Slovak territory as well. During their stay in Slovakia, they need to work and earn a living, and therefore apply for a job. However, the Slovak labor market is less friendly to job-seekers from third countries. Therefore, the government has taken measures to facilitate the recruitment of Ukrainian job seekers. Act No. 5/2004 Coll. is amended by the Act No. 92/2022 Z.z. on some other measures in relation to the situation in Ukraine. The conditions of employment of third-country nationals and the period of validity of the vacancy certificate, which corresponds to a highly qualified job, the vacancy certificate and the work permit are amended. The Center for Labor, Social Affairs and the Family has prepared the project "We help people who have left Ukraine". One of several measures also supports employers who decide to employ these people in the form of volunteering.

Content of measure

The Office of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family can thus receive and finance job creation for job-seekers from Ukraine through a number of instruments, such as the "project and program financing" instrument. The monthly contribution to the employer (for the purpose of purchasing work aids, for accident insurance and for the salary of an employee organizing volunteer activities) is in the amount of €110.72 for each withdrawn person from Ukraine who participates in volunteer activities, during a period of 6 months. There is a possibility of repetition for a maximum of another six months with another employer. At the same time, a withdrawn person from Ukraine can receive a monthly flat-rate contribution of €218.06, which is intended to cover the necessary costs associated with the volunteering. The financial coverage of the project is provided through the system of National Projects, but the planned scope has not been entrusted.

This will only apply for the period until the emergency situation in the state is revoked. The total budget allocated to this measure was not determined, but is limited by set conditions.

Use of measure

The Center for Labor, Social Affairs and the Family has prepared the project "We help people who have left Ukraine". One of several measures also supports employers who decide to employ these people in the form of volunteering. (Volunteering activity is not entitled to a salary and includes activities such as working in a community center as a language teacher or social worker, but also cleaning public green spaces, care of dependent people, including children or household duties.)

From the end of February to the end of July 2022, more than 700,000 citizens fleeing the war from Ukraine crossed the borders of Slovakia. Approximately 90,000 of them, both adults and children, found temporary refuge in Slovakia and obtained the status of sojourners. About a third of them found employment (according to the statistics of the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family): in July 2022, a total of 30,042 people were employed (of which 49.9% were women).

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Local / regional government Public employment service	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Their involvement was requested by institutional setting.

Views and reactions

The social partner organizations welcomed the measure. The influx of job seekers from Ukraine will help reduce job vacancies. Attitudes of employers' organizations - AZZZ - said that we need workers from Ukraine. The risk is whether they really stay in Slovakia. (5 May2022) RUZ - Prepared Guidelines for employers on how to proceed in the employment of citizens of Ukraine (7 March 2022) APZD - prepared an active database of vacancies for applicants from Ukraine (23 March 2022).Attitudes of Trade unions: KOZ - - said that the arrival of the labor force from Ukraine will help the labor market in Slovakia. Ukrainians will help fill jobs in long-term scarce professions.

Sources

• 07 March 2022: RUZ - Usmernenie zamestnávateľom k postupu prípadného zamestnávania občanov Ukrajiny (www.ruzsr.sk)
• 22 March 2022: Lex Ukrajina II: Act No. 92/2022 Coll. on Other certain measures referred to the situation in Ukraine (Zákon č. 92/2022 Z. z. o niektorých ďalších opatreniach v súvislosti so situáciou na Ukrajine) (www.slov-lex.sk)
• 22 March 2022: Dôvodová správa k Zákonu č. 92/2022 Z. z. (rokovania.gov.sk)
• 23 March 2022: APZD – Záujemcovia o zamestnanie – aktívna databáza (www.asociaciapz.sk)
• 05 May 2022: AZZZ - We need Ukrainian workers. The question is, will they really stay here (5 May2022 (www.azzz.sk)
• 10 May 2022: Press release of Labour Office : Project We help people from Ukraine
• 07 June 2022: KOZ – Ukrajinci pomôžu obsadiť voľné pracovné miest (www.kozsr.sk)