Lithuania is leading among EU countries in integrating Ukrainian refugees into its labour market. More than half of working-age Ukrainians that have arrived in the country after the Russian invasion in February have found jobs.
Zigmantas Dargevicius said he wanted to help Ukrainian refugees and offered a number of them jobs with a hotel chain he ran. In summer, at the height of the season, it was easy to do and, moreover, the Ukrainians were an asset amid shortages of workers. He says he plans to take in more Ukrainians in spring, when the season starts again.
“There is one problem – most do not speak English, so we cannot give them customer-facing jobs,” says Dargevicius, CEO of Best Baltic Hotels.
In Kaunas, a Ukrainian woman has set up a business of her own, making and selling food. She said she had a similar business in Ukraine, so it was not difficult to start in Lithuania.
So far, she says, all her employees are fellow Ukrainians, except for one salesperson who is Lithuanian.
“We now have 10 employees. There is a Facebook group called Ukrainians in Kaunas, and I posted an ad there saying that I was looking for employees, preferably Ukrainian, because it was easier for me, I’m still developing the business. Maybe later I will employ more Lithuanian women, but right now I want to employ my own,” says Natalia Fayer, the founder of Pas Mama.
“I’ve had good experience in Kaunas, good people, helpful. I am happy that the whole team is from Ukraine, we understand each other and it is much easier to work,” says Olha Synko, a refugee from Ukraine.
“We are used to working all our lives. I am an educator, but now I am trying a different profession. I’m happy to work, to socialise,” says another Ukrainian Olha Poshtarenko.
Fayer, the founder, wants to expand her business.
“The plan is to make our products appeal to the Lithuanian customer. Then we will expand, creating branded shops where the customer can find products for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” she shares.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour says very few Ukrainians set up their own business. However, Lithuania has the highest share of Ukrainian refugees in employment among EU members states. Around half of working-age people have found a job.
“Lithuania was probably one of the first countries to open its labour market. When Latvians and Estonians were still discussing what to change, people were already working in Lithuania, and we are also working very fast to get people into skilled jobs. At the moment, about 1,000 people are working in education, social security and health care, for example,” according to Deputy Minister Vytautas Silinskas.
The Labour Inspectorate has received over 200 complaints from Ukrainian workers, mostly about unpaid wages.
More than 21,000 Ukrainians have found employment in Lithuania since the start of the war in Ukraine. They pay about 5 million euros in taxes a month, the Social Security and Labour Ministry says.
Most Ukrainians work in manufacturing, construction, transport and warehousing, accommodation and catering, wholesale and retail, the statement reads.
“I admire the work ethic and strength of Ukrainians and their contribution to the Lithuanian economy. At the same time, I thank our employers who have provided jobs for Ukrainians who have fled the war,” minister Monika Navickiene is quoted in the statement.
Ukrainians’ salaries range from the minimum wage to almost 2,000 per month, depending on the nature of their work. On average, a Ukrainian earned around 1,048 euros before tax in November.
So far, around 71,500 Ukrainians have come to Lithuania, and the number includes children, elderly and working-age people. (LRT/Business World Magazine)