Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated that the involvement of foreign labor in Ukraine is considered exclusively as one of the additional tools to overcome the personnel shortage. This was stated in the response to the petition, reports UNN.
Details
In the petition, the author demanded that the Cabinet of Ministers abandon the policy of mass involvement of foreigners, and instead of importing foreign labor, "the state must provide conditions for the work and protection of its own citizens, including those living abroad and ready to return to rebuild the country."
To implement this, the author demanded the creation of priority deferment (reservation) and return of Ukrainians; the introduction of a "Labor Return" program; and the provision of guaranteed deferment from mobilization for citizens of Ukraine (particularly those who left before 2022) who are ready to return to Ukraine to work in critical sectors (construction, energy, manufacturing).
It is also proposed to ban the issuance of work permits to foreigners in sectors where the personnel shortage can be covered by reserving existing employees or attracting Ukrainians from abroad.
"The state should invest in the logistics of bringing its own people back, not in the integration of others," the author notes.
Furthermore, the petition demands the establishment of a mandatory exam on the Ukrainian language and history for any foreign worker; a requirement that able-bodied foreigners seeking residency in Ukraine be involved in the defense of the state through contract service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine; and the implementation of a high fee for hiring foreigners for employers.
"These funds should be directed toward financing programs for the return of Ukrainians and the automation of production. Provision should be made for the cancellation of permits for disrespecting national values or violating laws. We demand that the Ukrainian worker be prioritized. Migration can only be an exception with strict rules, not a tool for replacing the Ukrainian nation," the author adds.
In response to the petition, Svyrydenko points out that the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has caused a significant deterioration in the functioning of the labor market, large-scale displacement of the population, destruction of business infrastructure, a reduction in the number of jobs, and a geographical shift in economic activity.
"Under such conditions, the primary task of the state is to attract people to the labor market who are in Ukraine or can return from abroad, including through the introduction of systemic support for youth, women, veterans, people with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and older people, who should receive specific tools — from vocational guidance and retraining to adapted workplaces and inclusive hiring programs. The involvement of foreign labor in the Ukrainian labor market is considered exclusively as one of the additional tools to overcome the personnel shortage," the response reads.
She adds that the government's systemic response to transformational changes in the labor market is the Employment Strategy of the Population of Ukraine for the period until 2030, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers' order of January 7, 2026, No. 92, which is aimed at developing a modern and flexible employment policy, the overall result of which is to improve the quality, inclusiveness, and legalization of the labor market, overcome the personnel shortage, and expand employment opportunities for the population in the Ukrainian labor market, particularly by ensuring effective economic and professional integration of persons returning from abroad.
"In view of the above, the government generally supports the proposal stated in your electronic petition regarding the involvement of Ukrainian citizens who are abroad and ready to return to rebuild the state. At the same time, the reservation (deferment) of such persons must occur in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the government continues to take measures to ensure the development of a competitive, open, and investment-attractive economy, and the implementation of a modern and flexible employment policy. In particular, a draft long-term strategy for the economic development of Ukraine 'Economy of the Future' is under development, planned for 15 years, the goal of which is to create conditions for attracting investment, accelerating economic growth, bringing Ukraine's income levels closer to those of Central and Eastern European countries, and returning Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine," Svyrydenko adds.
As a reminder
Poland supports the cancellation of temporary protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age in the European Union. An internal document discussed in the EU Council provides for the complete exclusion of men of conscription age from future asylum programs, which would deprive them of residency rights and any benefits.