Construction workers from the Republic of Moldova are increasingly attracted by higher salaries offered in Ukraine, where painters, plasterers, and tile installers can earn between €2,000 and €3,000 per month. The statements come from the owner of a construction company in Odesa, who says he is facing an acute labor shortage, according to Point.md.
He claims that workers from Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria are willing to work in wartime Ukraine because prices for renovation and construction services have increased significantly and now exceed those in some neighboring countries.
“An ordinary painter, plasterer, or tile installer can earn up to €3,000 in Ukraine. In Moldova, they earn around €1,000, while in Ukraine they can earn between €2,000 and €3,000,” the businessman said.
He explains that the war and military mobilization have sharply reduced the number of available workers on the local labor market, forcing companies to recruit labor from abroad.
Meanwhile, Bureau for Migration Policy of Ukraine head Vasili Voskoboinik stated that Ukrainian authorities issued or extended more than 9,000 work permits for foreign citizens in 2025. Turkish citizens received the largest number of permits, totaling nearly 2,000.
During the same period, Ukrainian authorities issued 397 work permits to citizens of the Republic of Moldova. For comparison, Ukraine issued or renewed around 22,000 such documents for foreign workers in 2021.