The government of Estonia continues the programs to attract Ukrainian refugees to the country’s labor market. The unemployment office (Estonian equivalent of the employment service) offers programs for training, help in writing a resume, and job search. Also, through this organization, Ukrainians can get funds to start their own business.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund provides grants in the amount of 6,000 euros to citizens of Ukraine with protection status who have created a project to establish a new enterprise. The applicant must convince the grantors that the business will be viable, sufficiently profitable and will be able to stay on the market for more than one year. The advantage will be the ability to create jobs for other people.
14 Ukrainians have already used the program. In total, since 2022, 727 of our fellow citizens have opened their own business in Estonia. Most often, Ukrainians found auto or bicycle repair companies, manufacturing enterprises, public catering establishments, etc.
“Over time, the situation changed, and the interest of Ukrainian refugees in opening a business increased. At first, in the first year of the war, many thought that they would work here temporarily and then return home. However, the reality turned out to be different. Opening a business is a long-term process, and at the beginning there was almost no interest”, – the press service of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund notes.
In order to create a successful project that has a high chance of receiving funding, refugees can take a course on entrepreneurship. Over two years, 233 Ukrainians completed entrepreneurship training in Estonia under the program of the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
We will remind you that the employment course, which consists of five modules, started in June. This is an initiative of the Estonian Refugee Council (Eesti Pagulasabi). The program is designed for four months. During this time, more than 120 Ukrainians will be helped to find a job by profession.
“Our goal is to support job-seeking refugees to adapt to new conditions, helping them enter the labor market and maximize their potential. Within the framework of the program, participants are offered various opportunities to develop their skills and receive the necessary support for successful adaptation in a new country.” – said the head of the program Veronika Saareveli.
