Switzerland Extends Protection Status for Ukrainian Refugees Until 2025 and Aims to Integrate Them into the Job Market
The Swiss government has decided to extend the protection status for Ukrainians who fled the Russian war until March 4, 2025, according to a statement from the Swiss government.
"Stabilization of the situation in Ukraine is not expected. Thus, the S status of protection for those seeking refuge from Ukraine will not be revoked before March 4, 2025. The Federal Council decided this on November 1, 2023. For the first time, integration into the job market is also specified: 40% of employable people with S protection status should be employed by the end of 2024," the statement reads.
Due to Russia's war against Ukraine, the Swiss Federal Council activated the S protection status for Ukrainian migrants on March 12, 2022. This serves as temporary protection during a period of significant general threat. As of the end of October 2023, Switzerland had approximately 66,000 Ukrainians with active S status.
The S protection status remains valid until the Federal Council nullifies it, which requires a solid stabilization of the situation in Ukraine, indicating the absence of a significant general threat. Recent events show that such stabilization is still unpredictable, with ongoing military actions expected across Ukraine.
The Swiss government has also set a target for integrating refugees into the job market. By the end of 2024, they plan to employ 40% of individuals with S protection status who are capable of working.
Earlier, the European Union also decided to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2025.
The temporary protection regime allows displaced individuals from Ukraine to access a range of rights within the European Union, including access to housing, the job market, healthcare, and education for children.
This temporary protection regime for Ukrainian refugees who escaped Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and arrived in Europe was initially established on March 4, 2022. It has been automatically renewed for one year.
According to Eurostat, there are currently 4.1 million registered Ukrainian refugees in the EU seeking temporary protection.