On July 21, the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Union (SUP) took part in a hearing of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights entitled “Ukraine’s Labour Market Under Pressure: Attracting Foreign Workers, Protecting Ukrainian Employees, and State Oversight of Migration Processes.”
The discussion brought together members of parliament, representatives of central executive authorities, the State Employment Service, the State Migration Service, academia, international organizations, trade unions, employers, and business associations.
During the hearing, Kateryna Glazkova, Executive Director of SUP, presented the business community’s position on addressing the labour shortage and improving state policy on labour migration. Following the discussion, the Union also submitted business proposals to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on improving mechanisms for attracting foreign workers, digitalizing procedures, and protecting Ukraine’s labour market.
Labour Shortages Are Holding Back Economic Growth
According to Kateryna Glazkova, the labour shortage has already become one of the key factors constraining the development of Ukraine’s economy. It directly affects production, contract fulfilment, logistics, investment attraction, and businesses’ participation in the country’s recovery.
According to Ukraine’s Employment Strategy through 2030, 74% of employers are experiencing a shortage of workers. The greatest shortages are observed in manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics, agriculture, as well as among technical and engineering professionals.
At the same time, SUP emphasizes that the priority of state policy should remain the maximum use of Ukraine’s domestic labour potential. This includes creating conditions for Ukrainians to return, supporting the employment of veterans, internally displaced persons, women, young people, and older people, as well as developing vocational training and reskilling opportunities.
Attracting Foreign Workers: An Additional Tool, Not a Replacement for Ukrainian Workers
In some sectors of the economy, labour shortages can no longer be addressed through domestic resources alone. In such cases, attracting foreign workers can serve as an additional tool to support businesses.
At the same time, as Kateryna Glazkova noted, there are currently no grounds to speak of a mass influx of foreign workers into Ukraine. In 2021, around 189,000 foreigners were temporarily residing in Ukraine, compared with approximately 48,000 in May 2026. During 2025, only around 4,900 people obtained temporary residence permits in connection with employment.
Business Calls for Digitalization and Simplification of Procedures
The SUP Executive Director also highlighted the complexity of the current procedure for employing foreign workers. At present, employers have to interact with several government authorities, while the process of obtaining the necessary documents is time-consuming, costly, and does not guarantee that the worker will ultimately take up the job.
Following the hearing, the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Union officially submitted business proposals to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights aimed at improving the mechanism for attracting foreign workers. In particular, SUP proposes to:
- create a single digital platform for attracting foreign workers, through which businesses could submit job requests and the state could cooperate with relevant authorities in other countries to identify candidates;
- introduce a fully digital employment process for foreign workers covering candidate recruitment, e-visa issuance, tax identification number, work permit, residence permit, employment contract, and subsequent employment monitoring;
- establish electronic information exchange between the State Employment Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Migration Service, State Tax Service, and State Border Guard Service to shorten processing times, eliminate document duplication, and strengthen the effectiveness of state oversight;
- fully digitalize administrative procedures, including document submission, approvals, and payment for administrative services through a single platform;
- review the approach to identifying countries posing a migration risk, including allowing simplified employment procedures for citizens of such countries who have been legally working in EU member states for more than five years;
- simplify the employment of foreign students who are already in Ukraine, are studying or have completed their studies, and are able to enter the Ukrainian labour market;
- introduce a separate labour migration visa category providing the right to legal employment and automatic extension subject to continuous employment;
- review certain documentary requirements for obtaining a work visa, including requirements to provide proof of financial means and health insurance in cases where a foreign national is coming to Ukraine at the invitation of an employer.
The Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Union officially submitted all of its proposals to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights for consideration in the further development of legislative amendments.
A Transparent System in the Interests of Business, the State, and Workers
SUP emphasizes that any simplification of procedures must go hand in hand with effective state oversight, protection of the Ukrainian labour market, equal labour rights for Ukrainian and foreign workers, and measures to prevent wage dumping.
“Ukraine needs a transparent, safe, and well-managed system that responds to the real needs of the economy. For business, this means predictable timelines and minimal duplication of procedures. For the state, it means transparency and oversight. For workers, it means legal status, equal rights, and decent working conditions,” Kateryna Glazkova concluded.