The blogger debunked three myths about the work and life of Ukrainians in Switzerland

A high average salary in Switzerland does not mean that every Ukrainian who comes to the country will earn the same. Blogger Bohdan Tovkalo warned against popular promises of easy work on farms and free housing for moving to a village. He shared this on TikTok, and a separate article by Inkorr describes the conditions for Ukrainians in Switzerland.

What salaries can Ukrainians expect in Switzerland

Social media often cites the average salary in Switzerland at around 6,500 francs, or nearly 350,000 hryvnias. Tovkalo confirmed that this figure appears in statistics but emphasized that it does not reflect the income of all workers, especially newly arrived Ukrainians.

«This amount does not concern us, Ukrainians who moved to Switzerland as refugees or migrants. We will not be earning such figures here. For us, the average salary in Switzerland will be 3,500–4,000 francs», — said the blogger.

According to him, higher incomes can be expected by individuals who have received education in Switzerland and hold local qualifications. At the same time, earnings depend on profession, experience, language skills, and work permits. Therefore, the national average should not be taken as a guaranteed offer for migrants. However, there are job openings in the country: for example, employers are looking for construction workers in Switzerland, but access to employment depends on documents and qualifications.

Is there really a shortage of workers on farms?

Another common story circulating online is that Swiss farms are supposedly mass recruiting people, offering 7 to 10 thousand francs and providing free housing. Tovkalo called such promises false and stated that the labor market in the country is saturated.

«Don't believe it, this is a myth. There are plenty of workers here; people have been looking for work for years and cannot find it. The pay on farms is not what you are being told on the internet», — he said.

According to the blogger, real wages in agriculture are lower than the amounts circulated on social media. It's important to check whether the employer actually offers housing, what the working conditions are, and whether workers are legally employed.

Do they pay for moving to Swiss villages?

Tovkalo also refuted stories about Swiss villages supposedly providing free homes and paying large sums to those who agree to move there. According to him, such reports are fabrications, not a government program for foreigners.

«There are no villages here that will take you in, provide free housing, and pay you for moving», — emphasized the blogger.

He urged people not to trust sensational announcements without verifying the source and conditions. Information about job vacancies, salaries, and living arrangements should be clarified directly with employers and government agencies, rather than planning a move based on viral posts. Rules for Ukrainians are also changing: for instance, Switzerland has updated the conditions for obtaining S status.