Staffing agencies step in to help Ukraine refugees

Global staffing agencies and associations have started supporting Ukraine refugees, helping them with job placement, safety measures, family protection, right to work issues, and the chance to apply to job openings across industries and categories.

U.S.

GreenLight.ai announced it is extending employer of record services to support and provide employment to Ukrainians, waiving fees and operating at cost. The company has partnered with RemoteUkraine, a NGO that functions like a talent marketplace offering task and time-based work options. It is free to post jobs, search candidates and receive applications.

Netherlands

Dutch staffing agencies have been offering help to Ukrainians by letting them fill current job vacancies in the companies. The fleeing migrants will have the right to work and send their children to school.

UK

Global agencies such as Impellam Group and Robert Walters have requested that government help Ukrainians with job options.

Denmark

Jobindex, a job board has launched a new website named as jobsforukrain.dk which enables companies/employers to post job ads for Ukrainians.

Japan 

Japan’s government is ready to accept Ukrainian refugees and offer employment opportunities. One retail chain, Pan Pacific, agreed to offer financial support to 100 families, along with job opportunities.

Poland  

• An agreement has been signed between the Supreme Bar Council, the Lewiatan Confederation and the Polish HR Forum - Employers' Union, to ensure cooperation in the field of assistance to Ukrainian citizens who are victims of the war conflict.

• They provide help in the fields of legal aid, legalization of documents, and assistance in finding employment opportunities to Ukrainians

(Sources: SIA, Aljazeera, Reuters, Staffing agencies, Country staffing associations)

Global Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war crisis on staffing agencies and related associations 

• Kelly services, one of the major global staffing agency with widespread operations in Russia, has activated an emergency management team, which is closely monitoring the situation in Russia and supporting local leadership and employees. 

• The U.S. experiences robust economic recovery and short-term higher inflation; employment levels will take time to recover in coming years.

• Jobble, largest job site in world by traffic and job aggregator, has suspended its operations in Russia and Belarus; it is headquartered in Ukraine.

• UATalents, a recently-launched job board, is a platform where all European companies can advertise their jobs to Ukrainian people. This platform focuses on the technology sector

• HeadHunter, Russia’s largest job board, has announced that three members of the board of directors have resigned due to the war crisis.

• Many staffing agencies are offering transport and accommodation as well as legal and psychological assistance to family members of colleagues and agency workers.

• The agencies have established websites and local support centres for the refugees

• In some countries, cooperation agreements have been developed with central employers’ organisations and/or public employment services to facilitate displaced workers’ access to the labour market. 

• WEC members are activating Tent Partnership, which mobilizes the private sector to improve the livelihood of 30 million refugees

• Global staffing firms have been taking several steps and working with clients to ensure employment opportunities are there for Ukrainians in neighboring countries.

• WEC, an organization for private employment services across globe, has requested EU member states to activate ‘Temporary Protection Directive’  (2001/55/EC) to ensure temporary protection to the war refugees in the E.U.

• Upwork and ADP have suspended operations in Russia and going forward will not renew any existing contracts. ADP has provided $1.5 million in donations from their own Foundation and associates to UNICEF USA, International Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps and the U.S. Association for UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency)

• Hays, the 6th largest staffing agency in the world, has decided to immediately close all business operations in Russia.

• Adecco Group has set up a microsite for colleagues to donate to the crisis, provided by ICRC.

(Sources: SIA, Aljazeera, Reuters)