Text: Svitlana Prokopchuk
In an interview given by Adrian Gerber — Commissioner for the labour market integration of persons with protection status for the period 2024–2026 — to USB Association media coordinator Svitlana Prokopchuk, he explains that the integration of Ukrainians in Switzerland is not driven by a single major reform, but rather by gradual, incremental adjustments within the system.
The key idea is that the state has facilitated access to the labour market: reducing bureaucracy, replacing permit procedures with notification systems, and strengthening coordination between cantons and the private sector. This has led to a steady increase in employment among Ukrainians.
At the same time, integration remains a complex and long-term process. The main barriers include language, recognition of diplomas, and the specific nature of the Swiss labour market, where practical experience is often valued more than formal education. Many people start with lower-skilled jobs and only gradually move into positions that match their qualifications.
The main conclusion is that successful integration depends on early entry, systematic support, and the gradual accumulation of experience — rather than quick political decisions.
Read more here: https://journal-b.ch/artikel/es-gibt-keinen-hebel-nur-zahlreiche-kleine-schalter-und-knoepfe/
Foto: David Fürst
