Appeal from the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities of Ukraine
The Association of Frontline Cities and Communities of Ukraine has called on the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada to prevent the large-scale hiring of foreign labor and instead focus national policy on supporting local citizens. Endorsed by board members from the Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia regions, the appeal stresses the urgent need for a new employment and retraining strategy. This issue is especially pressing as Ukraine grapples with wartime displacement and a shrinking workforce.
Demand for a Fresh Labor Policy
Ihor Terekhov, head of the Association and mayor of Kharkiv, emphasized that Ukraine requires a fundamentally different labor policy. He argued that large-scale retraining programs, support for workers aged 50 and older, first-job initiatives for youth, guaranteed employment schemes for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and veterans must become top priorities. In his view, Ukrainian citizens should be the first to receive job opportunities.
The Association also called for stricter oversight of work permits issued to foreigners and urged avoiding any excessive simplification of mass employment procedures for foreign labor. According to UN estimates, roughly 60% of Ukrainians who fled due to the war do not plan to return even after it ends. Against this backdrop, the Association underscored the need to legally enshrine the principle of prioritizing Ukrainian citizens in the job market.
'I strongly disagree with the idea that Ukraine’s complex labor shortage should be solved in the most simplistic way—through mass imports of cheap labor,' said Ihor Terekhov.
He believes that if foreign workers are needed, their recruitment should be a 'strictly quota-based process.' The Association also urged the Verkhovna Rada to hold parliamentary hearings on the social, economic, and demographic challenges tied to potential large-scale labor migration.
'We have a huge domestic reserve. Hundreds of thousands of veterans will need full reintegration into civilian life,' he added. Terekhov stated that Ukraine cannot afford to send its citizens a signal that they are being replaced, and must create economic conditions that encourage Ukrainians to return home.
The concerns raised in the appeal highlight the critical nature of employment issues in Ukraine, especially amid a prolonged war and significant emigration. The Association calls for decisive government action to secure jobs for citizens—particularly veterans—and avoid reliance on foreign labor. This could be a vital step toward labor market stability and post-conflict economic recovery.
As Ukraine faces significant challenges due to a declining population, the need for a comprehensive migration strategy becomes increasingly apparent. Recent trends indicate that the nation is losing approximately 320,000 residents annually, raising concerns about the future workforce. For insights into the government's plans to address these demographic shifts and their potential impact on the labor market, read more about the new migration framework being proposed.