The attraction of labor migrants from other countries to work at Ukrainian enterprises should not be based on a dry “accounting approach,” believes Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economy, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka. Instead, any initiatives regarding the peculiarities of the functioning of the labor market should take into account the need to improve the quality of the labor force and society as a whole.
“I do not agree with the accounting approach of the type “if 100 migrants will cost us less, our products will be cheaper”. I believe this is absolutely wrong both in relation to Ukrainians and in relation to migrants. Since the initiatives that we already have, for example, projects for the development of active longevity, which are implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy, and similar programs, are an example of the fact that along with the development of business, the quality of Ukrainian society is also improving. Resources are invested in skills, personnel. And this is not a question of income, it is a question of improving the quality of the entire society and our lives. And we must proceed from this. Ukraine has always been open, I think, and remains open to migrants, but this cannot be a purely accounting method,” Kachka noted during a discussion within the framework of the Exporters Summit organized by Forbes Ukraine.
Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov, who also participated in the discussion, believes that it is more important to focus on “our people returning home, so that we do not need migrants, and Ukrainians can work at our enterprises.” He also agreed with Taras Kachka, noting that the state and business should focus on the quality of personnel and implement various programs for the development of the workforce.
In turn, Kernel CEO Yevgeny Osypov pointed out that the influx of migrants is usually observed in countries with highly developed economies, so he would consider the interest in the Ukrainian market from foreign labor as a positive signal. “If a country becomes one where people want to come and work, then that is very good. All countries that have such a status are developing well,” the top manager concluded.
