Ukrainian Refugees in Israel Today: Employment Challenges, Financial Aid, and Community Support

Ukrainian refugees have become one of the largest groups of displaced persons as a result of Russian aggression, which began in 2014 and escalated significantly with the full-scale invasion in 2022.

According to the UN and other international organizations, by September 2023 The total number of registered Ukrainian refugees has exceeded 8 million people.

Ukrainian refugees who ended up in Israelare going through difficult times, aggravated by the economic crisis and political instability of the country. In the article Tatyana Volovelskaya for “Details” It is emphasized how Israeli charitiessuch as HIAS, are trying to help this vulnerable group of people, whose number in the summer of 2022 was 14,528 people, of whom about 4,000 left the country after the Iron Swords War.

By the way, HIAS Israel Offers One-Time Financial Assistance to Ukrainian Refugees in Israel.

The main problem faced by Ukrainian refugees is the difficulty of finding work. As explained Zoya Levitin And Rostislav Yeshurinemployees HIASemployment is critical to their survival in Israel. Despite this, many of the refugees do not even know about their right to work legally. According to Levitin, “many of them still do not know that they have the right to work legally in Israel,” which often leads to abuse by employers who convince them otherwise.

Refugees can work in all positions, with the exception of government services. However, employers are required to provide them with health insurance, and the minimum wage must comply with Israeli law. However, in practice, violations are not uncommon: “Most often, refugees complain about former employers who did not pay them one or another compensation.” For example, one case concerned the refusal to pay compensation for an injury at work. However, such situations are often resolved with a call from a lawyer.

Zoya and Rostislav note that the employer is also obliged to pay wages even in the case of illegal employment: “Even if your employer does not follow the rules, does not issue a ‘tlush’ and does not include you in the official payroll, he is still obliged to pay you a salary.” This is especially important for refugees, who often find themselves in a dependent position and do not know their rights.

Labor Support and Sexual Harassment

Many Ukrainian refugees in Israel are women, and Zoya says they often find themselves in a vulnerable position, subject to sexual harassment in the workplace. HIAS has developed several measures to protect women from such situations: “We help them find work ourselves and sift through every potential employer. Any suspicious offer is rejected.” It is also important to create a support network so that women feel they are not alone: ​​“We let her know she is not alone,” Zoya adds.

Financial assistance

Since early October 2023, HIAS has expanded its activities to include a financial assistance program in addition to employment support. NIS 800,000 has been allocated to those in need. Such measures help refugees get through difficult times, when many of them are forced to work in low-paid, physically demanding jobs, such as caring for the elderly or working in factories.

Community as the basis for survival

One of HIAS's main goals was to create Ukrainian communities in Israel, since, according to volunteers, Ukrainians were initially unaccustomed to such support. “We realized that we had to help them build their own Ukrainian community or network of communities where they could learn to live in a new reality,” Levitin and Yeshurin say. Not only does this give refugees the opportunity to discuss their problems, but it also helps find solutions that previously seemed impossible.

One of the initiatives within such a community was the work of a Ukrainian psychotherapist, who organized a project aimed at helping families. This project is especially important, since many families were separated: “Fathers stayed in Ukraine, women with children left. Often, the composition of the “female” part changed — for example, a grandmother or aunt joined them. The dynamics changed, the boundaries changed, the rules changed. Few people talk about this, but it is a huge problem.”

The success of the program and the future of refugees

Thanks to HIAS's efforts, many refugees were able to improve their lives in Israel. Some even decided to move to other countries, such as Ukraine, Canada or Europe. This is seen as a positive development: “They now have the energy to make another difficult move.”

Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainian refugees have become one of the largest groups of displaced persons as a result of Russian aggression, which began in 2014 and escalated significantly with the full-scale invasion in 2022. According to the UN and other international organizations, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, and by September 2023, the number of registered Ukrainian refugees exceeded 8 million.

Main destinations for Ukrainian refugees:

1. Europe — Most Ukrainians found refuge in the European Union, particularly in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Romania and the Baltic States. Poland has accepted over 1.5 million refugees, becoming one of the main destinations for migrants.
2. Israel — mostly Jewish immigrants and those who have relatives in the country arrived here. The number of Ukrainian refugees in Israel in 2022 was about 14,500 people.
3. USA and Canada — Both countries have introduced special programs for migrants. The United States launched the “Uniting for Ukraine” initiative, which simplifies the process of obtaining asylum for Ukrainians, and Canada launched a temporary asylum program.
4. Russia — although the situation in Russia is different due to propaganda and government policies, a significant number of Ukrainians have ended up on its territory, both as a result of forced evacuation and by their own choice.

The main challenges faced by refugees are:

1. Employment — One of the most difficult tasks for Ukrainian refugees is finding work in their host countries. In many countries, European governments have introduced special assistance programs, but employment is often limited by knowledge of the local language and recognition of Ukrainian diplomas. In countries such as Poland, Germany and Israel, support often comes from local communities and international organizations.
2. Housing — Refugees face difficulties in finding permanent housing. Many countries provide temporary housing, but living conditions can be cramped and access to permanent homes is difficult due to financial constraints.
3. Health and psychological support — A significant proportion of refugees require medical and psychological care due to the effects of war and displacement. Insurance is often provided on a temporary basis, but access to quality health care may be limited. International organizations such as HIAS are active in helping refugees with health care and mental health.
4. Integration into a new society — Ukrainian refugees are forced to adapt to new cultural and social conditions. Many face difficulties related to language barriers, access to education for children and professional qualifications.

Main support measures:

1. Employment and social integration programs — In various countries, programs have been developed to help with employment and learning new skills. In Poland and Germany, many refugees can attend language and vocational courses free of charge.
2. Financial assistance — refugees receive support from the governments of host countries. In some countries, such as Israel and Poland, refugees receive financial assistance to cover basic needs: housing, food, medical care.
3. Support of international organizations — The UN, UNHCR, the International Red Cross and other international organizations are actively helping Ukrainian refugees around the world, providing financial assistance, food, basic necessities and legal advice.

Forecasts and future challenges:

The situation for Ukrainian refugees remains volatile as the war continues. Many countries are willing to continue their support, but resources and government attention are limited. The future reconstruction of Ukraine will require significant efforts to ensure the return of citizens to their homeland and their reintegration into society.

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