The Impact of COVID-19 on Ukrainian Labour Migrants in the EU

The webinar reflected upon the situation of Ukrainian labour migrants, who constitute the largest group of migrant workers in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy, in particular, and inside the EU as a whole. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, labour migrants lose their jobs and livelihood, overstay their visas, residence and work permits, whilst also encountering various challenges in their attempts to return home. Meanwhile, the host countries suffer from the lack of migrant farmworkers who are essential for the food supply chains. Pavlo and Ruslan outlined which of the migration policy measures introduced in response to COVID-19 have worked and which have not, proposing some practical solutions that could inspire other countries as well.

The webinar was based on the recently published policy brief "The Impact of COVID-19 on Ukrainian Labour Migrants in Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Italy".

About the speaker:

Ruslan Minich is a Policy analyst and expert at Europe Without Barriers think tank. He applies qualitative and quantitative research methods to study migration processes and border management, writes media articles and stories. He is the author of Living Near Border: The Cases of Shehyni and Uhryniv Communities and Lviv Region (Ukraine)-Poland: Mobile Border In Between studies. His research interests cover also the European integration and international relations.

Pavlo Kravchuk is a Migration and border management expert at Europe without Barriers think tank based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Since 2016 as a part of EWB team explores policies regulating migration and cross-border mobility in Ukraine, the EU, and EaP countries, as well as relevant practices. Is particularly interested in methods of verifying official data, and proper informing in media on migration-related topics. Before EWB worked for a number of Ukrainian online media and studied Theory and History of Culture at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.