There are plans to restrict the hiring of foreign workers: what the Cabinet of Ministers will consider
19 May 12:52
A petition on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine calling for an end to the policy of mass recruitment of foreigners into the labor market has garnered the 25,000 signatures required for consideration, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The author of the petition proposes developing and implementing a State Strategy for the Protection of the National Labor Market, which would prioritize job reservations for Ukrainian citizens and the recruitment of Ukrainians from the diaspora instead of labor migration from abroad.
What is known about the petition
The petition was submitted on the government website on May 11, 2026.
As of May 19, it had gathered the required 25,000 votes, so it must now be considered by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
What the petition authors are demanding
The petition is titled “Protecting the National Labor Market: Prioritizing Ukrainians Over Migration.” It falls under the categories of defense capability, sovereignty, and interstate and interethnic relations.
The main demand is to develop and implement a State Strategy for the Protection of the National Labor Market.
The text of the appeal states that the state must abandon the policy of mass recruitment of foreign workers and instead create conditions for the employment and protection of Ukrainian citizens, particularly those living abroad who are ready to return to rebuild the country.
“Instead of importing foreign labor, the state must ensure conditions for the employment and protection of its own citizens, including those living abroad who are ready to return to rebuild the country,” the petition states.
The “Labor Return” Program
One of the key demands is the launch of the “Labor Return” program.
The authors propose granting guaranteed exemption from mobilization to Ukrainian citizens, particularly those who left the country before 2022 but are willing to return to Ukraine to work in critical sectors.
The petition lists the following sectors:
- construction;
- energy;
- manufacturing.
“We must bring back our specialists, not replace them with foreigners,” the authors of the petition emphasize.
Reservation as an alternative to labor migration
The petition also proposes banning the issuance of work permits to foreigners in sectors where labor shortages can be addressed by reserving positions for Ukrainian workers or by attracting Ukrainian citizens from abroad.
The authors believe that the state should invest resources not in the integration of foreigners, but in the return of Ukrainians.
“The state should invest in the logistics of bringing back its own people, not in integrating strangers,” the petition states.
Ukrainian Language and History Exam for Foreigners
In a separate provision, the authors propose introducing a so-called strict integration filter for foreign workers.
Based on Article 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine, they propose establishing a mandatory exam in Ukrainian language and history for any foreigner who wishes to work in Ukraine.
“We are a postcolonial nation, and respect for our linguistic space is mandatory for anyone who wants to work here,” the petition states.
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Foreigners and National Defense
The petition also includes a demand for so-called military-patriotic parity.
The authors propose that foreigners of working age who seek to reside in Ukraine be required to contribute to national defense through contract service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The petition justifies this with Article 17 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
“The right to civilian work in the rear should be a protected privilege of Ukrainian citizens,” the petition’s authors note.
High fees for hiring foreigners
Another demand is to introduce an economic barrier for employers who hire foreign workers.
The authors propose imposing a high fee for hiring foreigners, with the proceeds directed toward:
- programs to bring Ukrainians back home;
- production automation;
- supporting the Ukrainian labor market.
The petition also proposes revoking work and residence permits for foreigners in cases of law violations or disrespect for national values.
The petition’s main message
The authors of the petition emphasize that Ukrainian workers must be a priority for the state.
“We demand that Ukrainian workers be prioritized. Migration can only be an exception subject to strict rules, not a tool for replacing the Ukrainian nation,” the petition states.
Why the issue has gained traction
The issue of bringing in foreign labor has become relevant amid a labor shortage in Ukraine. Due to the war, mobilization, the emigration of part of the population, and demographic challenges, businesses are increasingly reporting a shortage of workers in construction, manufacturing, logistics, and the agricultural sector.
At the same time, a segment of society opposes the mass influx of foreign workers and demands that the state first utilize domestic resources—Ukrainians already working in critical sectors, veterans, internally displaced persons, people in need of retraining, as well as Ukrainian citizens abroad.
What 25,000 votes mean
Reaching 25,000 signatures does not mean the petition’s demands will be automatically approved. It means that the Cabinet of Ministers must officially review the petition and provide a response.
The government may support some of the proposals, instruct relevant ministries to study the issue, suggest alternative mechanisms, or reject the demands.
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