Ukrainian refugees in Europe have free access to the labor market. In particular, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Romania and Lithuania have increased the minimum wage and hourly rates since January 1.
About it writes RBC-Ukraine.
At the end of November 2023, 4.27 million people from Ukraine were under temporary protection in the EU. The European Union extended the protection for Ukrainians until 2025, which provides access to legal employment without additional permits. Ukrainians without language skills or experience can still expect simple physical jobs that pay minimum basic rates.
Germany
Ukrainians coming to Germany apply for a temporary residence permit "Aufenthaltstitel" on the basis of §24 of the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners. After obtaining this permit it is possible to find employment in the country.
Germany raised the minimum wage from €12 to €12.41 per hour brutto (before taxes). Without knowledge of German language and experience Ukrainians can find employment in Germany in production or logistics (warehouses). Ukrainians can mostly count on minimum hourly wages for simple physical work - in factories and warehouses.
Poland
Poland has not yet made a decision to extend the period of stay of Ukrainian citizens beyond March 4, 2024. Until that date, the employment procedure remains unchanged. Citizens of Ukraine who entered Poland on February 24, 2022 and were granted temporary protection can work without obtaining work permits. Ukrainians can also legally stay and work in Poland if the last day of their legal stay in Poland is from February 24, 2022, regardless of whether they have PESEL UKR until March 4, 2024.
Most vacancies for Ukrainians without language skills are offered in the field of logistics (work with picking and packing parcels in clothing warehouses and grocery stores, food and processing industries. The average salary for such work, taking into account the increase in the minimum wage from the new year, is PLN 4000-5500 netto (UAH 37.2-51,000).
Czech Republic
Ukrainians who have been granted temporary asylum in the Czech Republic also have free access to the labor market. A stamp in the passport on border crossing is needed as proof. It is important that there is no visa or residence permit in another EU country. Also, the Czech Republic doesn't provide protection to people who have already been granted asylum in another European country.
For Ukrainians, work is offered in logistics warehouses and car plants, as well as in the service sector. Since January 1, the minimum wage has also increased from 17300 to 18900 Czech crowns brutto. An employee should receive 16442 crowns (almost 27,000 UAH) netto. Salary for vacancies without language skills and experience is 20-25,000 Czech crowns netto (€800-1000 or UAH 32.8-41,000).
Netherlands
The status of temporary protection in the Netherlands can be obtained by Ukrainians who left Ukraine after November 26, 2021 and didn't have open residence visas on February 22, 2022. After receiving BSN (identification number) and Dutch temporary protection (sticker in the passport from IND - Netherlands Immigration and Naturalization Service) Ukrainians have access to the labor market without additional permits. From 2024, the minimum hourly rate in the Netherlands is €13.27. It will be paid only to people over 21 years old. For younger people, the rates will be lower: 20-year-olds will receive €10.62 per hour, 19-year-olds €7.96 per hour. The industries available for workers without language skills are agriculture (work in fields and greenhouses), food industry (work in meat processing plants), and warehouses.
Romania
Every citizen of Ukraine can receive temporary protection status in Romania, regardless of whether he or she was in Ukraine at the time of the start of a full-scale war. Unlike many EU countries, Romania doesn't refuse temporary protection if a person has already enjoyed asylum in another country. Temporary protection gives Ukrainians the right to work without additional permits, as well as the right to stay for one year in the country with the possibility of extension.
Ukrainians without Romanian language skills and experience can find employment in the automotive, food and processing industries. Since January 2024, the "minimum wage" has been increased to 3300 lei brutto (€660). The salary is 2079 lei ( €417) netto. It is possible to earn € 850-1200 due to additional payment for meals and increased rates for overtime and night work.