To help displaced persons navigate the labor market with confidence, a workshop titled “How Internally Displaced Persons Can Protect Their Labor Rights: Useful Tips and Instructions” was held in Ternopil. The event was organized within the framework of the United Voices in Action program.
“Millions of Ukrainians were forced to change their place of residence, leaving behind their jobs and familiar lives. In these new conditions, the risks of labor rights violations increase. Therefore, knowing how to protect oneself is critically important today,” noted Yana Shkuratova, the event coach and regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action program in Ternopilska Oblast.
During the training, the participants analyzed their employment situations, learned how to document violations, examined the algorithms of actions in case of employer pressure or non-payment, and identified where to turn for legal protection.
In addition to the lecture component, there was group work involving case studies, as well as individual consultations. These were provided by Volodymyr Bohush, the program’s regional lawyer in Ternopilska Oblast.
The organizers emphasized that there are three key tools that IDPs should know and use.
- First, work exclusively with official registration, as the employment contract is the primary mechanism of protection and evidence in any dispute.
- Second, always document violations. This can include correspondence, photos, copies of applications with acceptance marks, or registered letters.
- And third, do not be afraid to seek help. The State Labor Service, free legal aid, trade unions, and the Ombudsman are not merely symbolic institutions, but real instruments that work and are capable of effectively protecting a person.
The workshop participants noted the value of the knowledge acquired.
“For the first time, I received a clear understanding of my labor rights as an internally displaced person. Now I know where to turn and how to document violations. After the workshop, I feel more confident,” shared Olena, IDP from Khersonska Oblast.
Yevhen from Mykolaivska Oblast noted that the information was clear and applied: “The block on collecting evidence and appealing to the State Labor Service was the most memorable because I have faced this personally. Now I understand how to act and feel more protected.”
The workshop provided participants with an understanding of where and when to appeal:
- The State Labor Service — if the employer violates the law or discriminates based on IDP status;
- The free legal aid system — to obtain a lawyer if needed;
- The Commissioner for Human Rights — in cases of direct discrimination;
- Employment centers — for official employment, retraining, and education.
They were also informed about reliable online platforms, such as Work.ua and Robota.ua, as well as human rights organizations that work with IDPs.
According to the organizers, such workshops help reduce the vulnerability of IDPs in the labor sphere and give people a sense of support and confidence. Many participants arrived with specific problems and left with clear algorithms for resolving them.
“People saw that their situations are not isolated, and that there is a clear algorithm of actions that can help. For many, it was a discovery that even in the case of informal work, protection is possible and there are effective tools to defend one’s rights,” concluded Yana Shkuratova.
Are you an IDP and want to know more about how to protect your labor rights? We have compiled important explanations for you in a new infographic https://bit.ly/4if8Ary.
This publication was made possible within the framework of the United Voices in Action program, implemented by the international organization IREX together with the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and with the support of the U.S. Department of State. The content is the sole responsibility of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not necessarily reflect the views of IREX and the U.S. Department of State.