One year after the invasion of Ukraine, the Chair of the European PES Network and a Director of the Polish PES are both guests on the latest episode of PESPod to discuss how public employment services (PES) have responded to the ensuing crisis. Listen to find out more about the solidarity shown with people fleeing the invasion, but also the solidarity between PES as they have searched for the right responses.

© PES Network

In the latest episode of PESPod, Johannes Kopf, head of the Austrian PES (AMS) and chair of the PES Network, is joined by Ewa Flaszynska, Director of labour market department at the Polish PES, to reflect on the Ukraine crisis one year on. Their discussions take us from their recollections of the breaking news of the invasion to the current phenomenon of the “waiting dilemma” facing many Ukrainian refugees.

Ewa Flaszynska recalls how, as thousands of refugees started crossing the border into Poland, they worked non-stop in the Ministry to organise emergency aid, but also systemic solutions. “We prepared a new Law. Firstly, we opened our labour market for these people”. This was accompanied by a range of targeted support measures including hotlines for refugees and employers, adaptations to the electronic registration system and translated information.

Whilst the scale of the challenge was daunting, the results of these actions have been real and important. “Now we currently have in our labour market approximately 900,000 notifications from employers that they have hired a citizen of Ukraine,” Ewa Flaszynska reports.

Johannes Kopf, on behalf of the Network, reflects proudly on the work of the Polish PES as one of the most impacted neighbouring countries, as well as recounting the responses of the PES in Austria. Both guests go on to highlight the critical role of the PES Network in identifying and sharing successful approaches by PES and their partners. The PES network regularly surveys its members to report on latest developments. According to the November 2022 survey, PES across Europe have responded rapidly to the inflow of displaced people from Ukraine.

Listen also to hear how the Network has played a range of other valuable roles, including as a source of solidarity between PES, in advising the political authorities - including the European Commission - and through discussions and exchanges with the PES in Ukraine itself.

Finally, Johannes and Ewa reflect on the current situation and evolving challenges, highlighting two trends in particular based around tensions between short and long-term thinking. One involves the negative side of people spending a long time in jobs below their qualification levels. The other is the phenomenon of the “waiting dilemma” whereby individuals continue to turn down jobs or training to remain consistent with their hopes of returning home as soon as possible.

As Johannes Kopf concludes: “The topic is not over yet. I think we made a quite good job all over Europe. [But] I think there's absolutely need to co-operate between our countries and also to keep open the contact with our Ukrainian colleagues.”

Download this episode wherever you listen to your podcasts or listen online.  Any comments about PESPod or relevant topics for future episodes? Write to us at: EMPL-PES-SECRETARIAT@ec.europa.eu.