Украинский дипломат о беженцах в Сербии: почему нашим гражданам сложно найти работу

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes, seeking safety abroad. Each country accepted refugees differently, and each Ukrainian made his own choice, depending on the circumstances, possibilities and conditions of stay. Some chose Poland, others Germany or Canada, and some settled on the Balkans. Serbia has become one such refuge, but can it really become a long-term place for Ukrainian refugees to live?

Serbia grants Ukrainians a temporary protection regime that allows them to legally stay in the country and work. However, in reality, employment remains a serious challenge. Most Ukrainians who come to Serbia do not stay here for a long time, considering the country only as a transit point on the way to more stable regions of Europe.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia Volodymyr Tolkach explained, that the problem of employment concerns not only Ukrainians, but also the local population. The Serbian labor market is oversaturated, so finding a job is not easy even for citizens of this country. At the same time, some Ukrainians still find opportunities, in particular in large international companies. For example, some Ukrainians work at IKEA, learn Serbian and gradually integrate into local society. But this group is quite small.

According to Tolkach, one of the reasons why Ukrainians do not stay in Serbia is historical and political nuances. From the beginning of the war, the attitude of Serbian society towards Ukrainian refugees was ambiguous. In 2022, there were cases when the symbol «Z» was painted on cars with Ukrainian license plates — a sign of support for Russian aggression. Although the situation has changed over time and society has become more tolerant, the level of hospitality for Ukrainians in Serbia is still inferior to the countries of Western Europe.

«There are certain difficulties with work for our citizens, because the country as a whole has a problem with employment. These tens of thousands of people have jobs, these are the people who were able to find it and are satisfied. I know, for example, at Ikea, our people work, our people 5 thousand are those who came and settled in Serbia after the beginning of the large-scale aggression.

Where the atmosphere is more hospitable, let’s say so. At the first stage of the Russian invasion in 2022, there were Serbs who painted «Z» on cars with Ukrainian license plates. Today, compared to Russians, the number of our compatriots here is insignificant. Instead, Russians choose Serbia the most among other Balkan countries. Against this background, Vučić even stated in February 2024 that the attitude of Russians who are in Serbia towards Putin is much worse than that of Ukrainians. — said Tolkach.

According to the diplomat, despite all the difficulties, integration of Ukrainians into Serbian society is possible. Those who stay learn the language, look for work and gradually adapt to a new life. However, it is worth remembering that deep integration may influence their decision to return to Ukraine after the war. People who have built a new life are not always ready to leave everything behind and return to a country that will take a long time to recover from the destruction.

Serbia has become a stopover for most Ukrainian refugees looking for better opportunities in Europe. However, those who remain face both challenges and opportunities for a new beginning. Whether Serbia will become a long-term home for Ukrainians depends on changes in society, the economic situation and the prospects of returning to Ukraine after victory.