Geneva, My 12 (FN Agency) An estimated 4.8 million people in Ukraine have lost their jobs since the Russian invasion began in February, according to a new brief by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a UN agency. “If hostilities were to escalate, employment losses would increase to seven million,” the report estimated, emphasizing that “if the fighting were to cease immediately, then a rapid recovery would be possible, with the return of 3.4 million jobs. This would reduce employment losses to 8.9 percent.” The Ukrainian economy has been severely affected by Russian aggression. Since it began, on 24 February, more than 5.23 million refugees have fled to neighbouring countries. “Of the total refugee population, approximately 2.75 million are of working age.
Of these, 43.5 per cent, or 1.2 million, were previously working and have lost or left their jobs,” the report said. The ILO report also pointed out that the Ukrainian government has made considerable efforts to keep the national social protection system operational by guaranteeing the payment of benefits, including to internally displaced persons, through the utilization of digital technologies. The crisis in Ukraine may also create labor disruption in neighbouring countries, mainly Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, the report added. If the hostilities continue, Ukrainian refugees would be forced to remain in exile longer, putting further pressure on the labour market and social protection systems in these neighbouring states and increasing unemployment in many of them, the report said.