Many Belarusians lose jobs in Europe due to crisis
Most of the European countries shut down their labor markets for foreign workers.
The number of Belarusians leaving the country to work abroad has plummeted this year, Alexander Tatura, a deputy head of the external migration at the Interior Ministry, said in a statement.
The European Radio for Belarus has decided to find out what other job opportunities abroad still remain for our compatriots. We approached Jetexpo, an employment agency, for a consultation.
According to the agency staff, the conditions for working abroad are currently not conducive indeed. Most of the European countries are closing their labor markets for migrants due to the crisis.
Jetexpo: "We used have youth and student programs for working at farms in the UK, for instance. The British have totally revised their attitude to migrants and foreign labor force. It means that the UK does not issue work permits to non-EU citizens so easily".
Our compatriots have reduced travel to the United States as well. Although nobody changed their migration laws in the US, employers are not able to invite the same number of workers as before because of the crisis.
There is yet another reason. Due to the crisis, Belarusians are reluctant to give away $1500-2000 so that their student children could spend three months in the US within a program like "work&travel". A staff of the International Exchange Center in Minsk told the European Radio for Belarus that the number of students traveling to the US has dropped by 30-40 percent against the previous year.
With the global financial crisis in full swing, the traditional destination of labor migration, liked by our compatriots, are becoming almost an impossible dream. But, if you are still serious about working abroad, there are still some options. Jetexpo says that it has reoriented towards UAE after the closure of the British market:
"Now we deal with jobs in UAE and Quatar".
It is worth noting that a job in UAE is not that attractive as in the US or even Europe. The pay our compatriots can count on fluctuates between $500-100 while the climate is very hot (40 degrees +). A labor contract is normally signed for two years which makes it impossible for our students to find a job there.
Photo: bymedia.net
The number of Belarusians leaving the country to work abroad has plummeted this year, Alexander Tatura, a deputy head of the external migration at the Interior Ministry, said in a statement.
The European Radio for Belarus has decided to find out what other job opportunities abroad still remain for our compatriots. We approached Jetexpo, an employment agency, for a consultation.
According to the agency staff, the conditions for working abroad are currently not conducive indeed. Most of the European countries are closing their labor markets for migrants due to the crisis.
Jetexpo: "We used have youth and student programs for working at farms in the UK, for instance. The British have totally revised their attitude to migrants and foreign labor force. It means that the UK does not issue work permits to non-EU citizens so easily".
Our compatriots have reduced travel to the United States as well. Although nobody changed their migration laws in the US, employers are not able to invite the same number of workers as before because of the crisis.
There is yet another reason. Due to the crisis, Belarusians are reluctant to give away $1500-2000 so that their student children could spend three months in the US within a program like "work&travel". A staff of the International Exchange Center in Minsk told the European Radio for Belarus that the number of students traveling to the US has dropped by 30-40 percent against the previous year.
With the global financial crisis in full swing, the traditional destination of labor migration, liked by our compatriots, are becoming almost an impossible dream. But, if you are still serious about working abroad, there are still some options. Jetexpo says that it has reoriented towards UAE after the closure of the British market:
"Now we deal with jobs in UAE and Quatar".
It is worth noting that a job in UAE is not that attractive as in the US or even Europe. The pay our compatriots can count on fluctuates between $500-100 while the climate is very hot (40 degrees +). A labor contract is normally signed for two years which makes it impossible for our students to find a job there.
Photo: bymedia.net
