“This is New York! He does not spare anyone”: how much they get and how do Ukrainians survive in the USA

For many Ukrainians, the United States is the promised land. Every year, many Ukrainians emigrate to the United States in search of happiness, but some then simply wander for part-time jobs, because not everyone succeeds in getting a ticket to a cloudless future.

Correspondent “Today” Yuri Gula got a job as a waiter in the popular Brighton Beach area and did an experiment.

“This is New York, baby, and he spares no one.”

The heroine of the plot is the emigrant Elena. The woman has two higher educations, but she managed to get a job overseas only as a cleaner.

“Clean, sweep, wash …” – says Elena about her work, which she does “in the company” with a huge cockroach.

“Black Pants, White Shirt”: Waiter Job in Brighton Beach

No medical certificates, certificates, or at least well-being are asked here, even in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic.

Yuri Gula began work not in the hall, but in the basement, where part of the kitchen is located. I have to clean a bag of potatoes and a bag of carrots in two hours. Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Russians – almost everyone in the basement is working illegally. For example, the Mexican Manuel has been wandering in this way for 20 years. And in this cafe, where our correspondent settled, he likes most of all. According to him, the boss does not hit, does not shout and even gives illegal immigrants a sick leave.

Wage

They promised a starting salary of $ 120. But Yuri Gula never saw them. For several days the employer fed with promises, but instead of money, he treated me to a plate of Ukrainian borscht.

In general, this year alone, almost 2 million illegal immigrants came to the United States, and almost every second who got a job without documents was deceived by employers.

Therefore, before going overseas in search of the American Dream, it is worth thinking twice.

How Poland attracts Ukrainian workers

Another country where Ukrainians would willingly stay to live is Poland. Almost half of our employees announced such intentions. And one of the reasons, they admit, is cheap mortgage loans.

Ukrainians name three more main advantages:

• high level of salaries compared to Ukraine (80.6%);
• stable economic situation in Poland (27.9%);
• the opportunity to get easier than in other EU countries, a work visa or a temporary residence permit (25.4%).

Also, Segodnya journalists wrote about the work of Ukrainians in the Czech Republic and about what they are willing to pay from 150 thousand hryvnia for.