Ukrainians With Permit S: Skilled, Motivated, and Ready to Contribute

Inna Malaia, founder and CEO of Bevel World

Why hiring Ukrainian Permit S workers in Switzerland is beneficial for your business

Ukrainians who have been forced to leave their homeland due to the war now live and work in Switzerland with Permit S — a special protective permit granted to individuals fleeing violence and conflict.

While this permit grants the right to work in Switzerland, there are still many myths and concerns among employers regarding the permit.

The goal of this article is to debunk these myths and show that the process of hiring such workers is legal, simple, and safe. Ukrainians with Permit S are highly skilled, motivated, and experienced professionals who can be valuable assets to any company.

We interviewed Inna Malaia, founder and CEO of Bevel World, a leadership and transformation consultancy that supports individuals and organizations in navigating change, growth, and complexity. In parallel, she leads Bevel ON Association, the social impact arm of her work, which was created in response to rising workforce displacement and growing inequalities. Bevel ON designs and delivers its Capacity Building Programme specifically for vulnerable and displaced professionals, including Ukrainian refugees, providing access to upskilling, career reorientation, and local integration support. The programme helps participants rebuild their confidence, align with Swiss market expectations, strengthen leadership and communication skills, and foster sustainable inclusion in their new professional environment.

Understanding Permit S: What it is and why it matters

Permit S is a special temporary protection granted to individuals who have fled the war in Ukraine. It allows them to work in Switzerland, similar to B or C permits. However, many employers mistakenly believe that hiring individuals with Permit S is complicated or bureaucratic. As Inna Malaia notes: “Holders of Permit S already have permission to work, which is equal to permits B or C. A fast and simple hiring process – Hiring a Permit S holder is legally straightforward and faster than many expect.”

This simplified approach makes the hiring process much easier than hiring citizens from third countries, who face additional bureaucratic hurdles.

Debunking common myths about Permit S

Myth 1: Hiring individuals with Permit S is a complex and bureaucratic process.
Reality: As Inna explains, “The perception of complexity is far greater than the actual process. In reality, hiring someone with Permit S is a matter of submitting a standard form to the cantonal authorities, and the approval typically comes through within a few days to weeks, depending on the canton. It is far simpler than hiring a third-country national, and there are no quotas or labour market tests required.”

Myth 2: Ukrainians with Permit S lack sufficient qualifications or experience.
Reality: In fact, many individuals with Permit S have high qualifications and experience across various fields. Inna says that, “Many of the Ukrainians we work with through Bevel ON Capacity Building Programme have mid- to senior-level professional backgrounds. We see a wide range of competencies—from IT, marketing, finance, and project management to healthcare and education. Many are multilingual (fluent in English and conversational in one of the Swiss Languages, in addition to their mother tongue), highly educated, and accustomed to working in international or cross-functional business environments.”

Myth 3: Permit S workers may leave Switzerland soon.
Reality: While this is theoretically possible, many Permit S holders are actively integrating into Swiss society and plan to stay long-term. Inna adds: “Despite the challenge of forced displacement, they bring strong adaptability, resilience, and a powerful motivation to contribute to the economic growth of their cantons.”

Myth 4: Ukrainians with Permit S have no access to job search support.
Reality: The PAVE programme, initiated by the Federal Government and implemented by Hospice général in cooperation with the TRT Agency, offers comprehensive support for job seekers. The program includes:

• 40% wage funding for 6 months.
• Payment for additional job-related training, if necessary.
• Matching candidates to meet employer requirements.
• Internship opportunities before official employment.
• Individual support from employment consultants.
• Administrative support when signing a work contract.

Source: ​ ​hospicegeneral.ch

Participation in the PAVE program allows employers to reduce financial risks and access qualified candidates, facilitating faster integration of Permit S individuals into the labour market.

PAVE program contact details:

• Hospice général: pave@hospicegeneral.ch
• TRT Agency: info@agence-trt.ch

Benefits of hiring Permit S workers

Hiring Permit S workers offers significant benefits to Swiss companies. These workers not only have the necessary professional skills but also demonstrate high adaptability, resilience, and motivation, making them especially valuable to businesses.

• Highly skilled, job-ready workers: Many Permit S holders have international experience and can immediately bring value to companies as they are ready to work in changing environments.
• Resilience and work ethic: Forced displacement has made these professionals particularly resilient and adaptable to change, enabling them to work effectively in new and challenging conditions.
• Diversity and inclusion: By hiring Permit S workers, companies not only gain qualified staff but also contribute to social integration and workplace diversity.
• Motivation for success: Permit S individuals often have a high level of motivation as they seek not just to find work but also to build a new life in Switzerland. Their strong drive to succeed becomes a significant advantage for employers.
• Broad skill set and experience: Thanks to their international experience and multicultural background, Permit S workers bring diverse perspectives, helping companies work with global clients and in multicultural teams.
• Flexibility and adaptability to new technologies: Many Permit S workers already have experience working in rapidly changing environments and with cutting-edge technologies, making them especially valuable in the context of digital transformation.

“A chance to lead with purpose – Allowing someone rebuilding their life in Switzerland is not only good for business—it’s a contribution to society and inclusion. Employers appreciated not only the technical skills but also the work ethic, loyalty, and emotional intelligence these candidates brought.” Inna Malaia

Successful examples of Ukrainian professionals in Switzerland

There are already many success stories of Ukrainian professionals with Permit S thriving in the Swiss job market. Inna shares some examples: “One of our participants—a former marketing manager in Ukraine—was hired by Sunrise in Zurich, another one from the NGO sector recently became the director of the newly opened Galery. Our graduates became English teachers across different cantons, worked in the public sector such as CCIG, International Red Cross, EVAM, EPFL, private sector such as ON, Carrera, M3, and Globus. Employers often comment on how Ukrainian professionals bring both expertise and humility to the table.”

Inna adds: "Clearly, Ukrainian professionals are not just helping the Swiss economy — they are also making a positive impact on their workplaces."

Addressing employers’ concerns

Some employers still have concerns about hiring Permit S individuals, particularly regarding language barriers and a lack of experience in Switzerland. However, these concerns are often unfounded.

• Concern: Language barriers
  Many Permit S workers are fluent in English, and some are actively learning one of Switzerland’s official languages. Inna emphasises: “All our graduates speak English fluently, and many are already learning French or German. This makes them adaptable to various work environments. We see candidates quickly mastering languages, which helps them integrate better into the workplace and society. “
• Concern: Lack of local experience
  While local experience can be beneficial, it’s not always necessary. Inna points out: “Many of our graduates have international experience, which is highly transferable to Swiss companies. They bring fresh perspectives and expertise that complement the local workforce. “

How to hire Permit S workers: A simple guide

The process of hiring a Permit S worker is simpler than many might think. Here’s a simple guide for employers:

1. Submit a standard form: The employer submits a request to the cantonal authorities, providing candidate details and job description.
2. Wait for approval: Approval usually comes within a few days or weeks, depending on the canton.
3. Register the worker: Once approved, the worker can start immediately.

As Inna explains: “The process is managed at the cantonal level and is usually resolved within days. We also provide guidance and offer follow-up support if needed. Once employers understand the simplicity, the hesitation often disappears, and the interest in the professional skills of the candidate often prevails.”

Conclusion

Hiring Permit S workers in Switzerland is a smart, simple, and beneficial choice for employers. Ukrainians with Permit S bring valuable skills, strong work ethics, and a positive attitude to the workplace. By hiring them, companies not only gain valuable employees but also contribute to social integration and workplace diversity. Employers who have already hired Permit S workers have had an extremely positive experience, and many have changed their views, seeing the immense value these candidates bring to their teams.

Survey Results

A recent survey of 77 Ukrainian professionals in Switzerland showed that:

• 35.1% of respondents attended interviews and successfully secured a job. 22.1% were rejected after interviews, but the largest group, 37.7%, did not even receive an interview invitation due to their Permit S.
• 80.5% of respondents identified Permit S as the main barrier to employment, highlighting the high level of bias associated with this Permit.
• The majority of respondents emphasised the need for more employer awareness (87%), which is a crucial factor for improving job prospects. Local language courses and mentorship also helped many respondents (46.8% and 27.3%, respectively).

These results confirm that with the right support, such as language courses and recognition of academic qualifications, Permit S holders can be successfully integrated into the Swiss job market and greatly contribute to their employers' success.

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Images: Inna Malaia