Workshop on Employment for Ukrainian Refugees in Slovakia

As a part of the Smart UA project on September 17, 2025, a full-day expert workshop was held at Mariánska Hall in Trnava, attended by 46 representatives from various organizations supporting refugees from Ukraine. The workshop focused on key issues related to employment, integration, and the recognition of education and qualifications, with the overarching goal of exchanging experiences and developing practical recommendations to help integrate displaced persons into the Slovak labor market.

Participants included representatives from NGOs across six Slovak self-governing regions, state institutions, Labour, Social Affairs, and Family Offices, the Ministry of Education, as well as officials from the City of Trnava and the Trnava Self-Governing Region. Several Ukrainian students also attended, bringing valuable insight into the challenges faced by refugees seeking to establish themselves in Slovakia.

A key portion of the workshop was dedicated to a presentation by Mgr. Lenka Diener, PhD., Mgr. Dáša Ryšavá, PhD., and Mgr. Martin Fero, PhD., from the Department of Sociology at Trnava University. They shared the results of their field research conducted under the SMART UA project, which focused on organizations in Slovakia that support the housing and employment of displaced persons. The researchers outlined the major challenges faced by refugees, as well as the good practices they identified during their research.

Participants were divided into small discussion groups. These sessions provided an opportunity for attendees to exchange experiences, share examples of successful practices, and explore the main challenges related to supporting Ukrainian refugees in the areas of employment and housing.

One of the main challenges discussed was the current process of qualification recognition is complicated and lengthy, leaving many qualified individuals unable to find work in their field. Participants suggested a fast-tracked system for evaluating foreign diplomas and certificates. This would include transparent guidelines for translating qualifications and making the recognition process more efficient.

The Lack of language proficiency and unfamiliarity with the local working environment constitute a primary barrier to finding qualified employment. Courses should be organized flexibly and should also incorporate cultural orientation and adaptation to work ethics in Slovakia to increase the availability and quality of free Slovak language courses

Furthermore, displaced people lack sufficient information about their rights, obligations, social security, and job opportunities. By improving collaboration between CPPR, the Human Rights League, and Labour Offices, displaced persons would receive better guidance on employment, requalification, and the legal aspects of their stay and work.

Participants unanimously agreed on the necessity of continuous and deepened cooperation among Non-Governmental Organizations, state administration, and the private sector.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.