"First our own": Ukrainians responded with petitions to the idea of importing labor from abroad
The authors demand that Ukrainians be brought back from abroad first
On the e-petitions website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, a number of appeals have been registered regarding migration policy, protection of the labor market, and control over the presence of foreigners in Ukraine.
One of the petitions is titled “Protection of the national labor market: priority reservation of Ukrainians instead of migration”. Its author — Чубарева Юлія Сергіївна. The signature collection started on May 11, 2026. As of the time the appeal was recorded, it had collected 11,655 signatures out of the required 25,000.
The petition proposes developing and implementing a state strategy to protect the national labor market. It calls for priority reservation of Ukrainian citizens and engaging the Ukrainian diaspora instead of foreign migration.
The authors of such appeals insist that the state should primarily rely on Ukrainians: those who live in the country, as well as those who left because of the war and are ready to return to work in critically important sectors.
Another petition — “The problem of mass importation of migrants”. Its author — Погорєлов Владислав Олександрович. As of the screenshot it had gathered 3,065 signatures out of the required 25,000. The appeal proposes banning the importation of labor migrants from Asia, Africa and other regions.
The third petition concerns strengthening control over migration and ensuring that foreigners comply with the law in Ukraine. Its author — Кучерявенко Ольга Олексіївна. This appeal collected 360 signatures out of the required 25,000.
This petition proposes tightening checks of documents and the legality of foreigners’ stay, introducing mandatory medical screening for persons arriving for a long-term stay, and combating illegal work and shadow employment schemes.
The topic sparked active discussion on social networks. Some users express concern about the possible influx of a large number of migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries. In the comments, people most often talk about risks to the labor market, security, demographics and social tension.
Earlier we wrote:
- When young people left: employers remembered Ukrainians 50+
- Ukraine can offer a lot to the EU in terms of security, – Kim
- “Zoomers” will have a hard time: Kim explained how migrants can force everyone to work
- There will be no one left to work: Kim announced a severe personnel shortage in the Mykolaiv region
- Kim: due to mobilization in the Mykolaiv region up to 30% of staff are missing — young people move to safer regions
