There are no unemployment benefits – Ukrainians are in complete despair
Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many refugees still struggle to rebuild their lives. In Austria, one Ukrainian family now faces extreme hardship after losing its only income and being denied unemployment benefits.
Nearly 90,000 Ukrainians fled to Austria after the war began. Among them is فيتاليي ز., who settled in Graz with his wife and young son. Determined not to rely on social assistance, he learned German, reached level A2, and actively searched for work to integrate and become financially independent.
With a background in logistics and entrepreneurship, he accepted a job as a parcel delivery driver. However, his wages were paid late and only partially. After two months of work and long overtime hours, he is still owed about 3,000 euros by the subcontractor.
The situation worsened when the subcontractor lost its contract with the main delivery company, leaving him suddenly unemployed. Because he had worked for less than a year, he does not qualify for unemployment benefits or other financial support. His family must survive on 990 euros per month, while rent alone costs 600 euros.
فيتاليي ز. says the greatest burden is not only financial but emotional. Despite his education, language skills, and willingness to work, he feels abandoned by the system. He wants to contribute to Austrian society, pay taxes, and secure a stable future for his family, but currently sees no path back into employment.