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Transcript/ScriptBRITAIN UKRAINE REFUGEES
HEADLINE: Ukraine Refugees Help Ease Britain’s Labor Shortage
TEASER: The war has given Ukrainians fleeing the conflict a chance to obtain work permits in Britain
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Tommy Walker
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Newcastle, Britain
VIDEOGRAPHER: VOA Original, Agencies
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Steve Hirsch, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): APTN, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:26
NOTE:
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
((INTRO))
[[Like other countries in Europe, Britain is experiencing a labor shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But for thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war in their homeland, the deficiency provides crucial opportunities as they resettle in their new homes. For VOA, Tommy Walker reports from Newcastle upon Tyne in England.]]
((NARRATOR))
Britain has issued more than 100,000 visas to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Under the Homes for Ukraine plan, refugees can stay with a British family for at least six months, then live and work in Britain for up to three years.
Margharyta Alekhnovych has resettled in Gosforth, a town near Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
((Margharyta Alekhnovych, Ukrainian Refugee FEMALE IN ENGLISH))
“Was really like a movie because we saw lots of tanks and military vehicles going nearby, and lots of planes over our heads, and it was really terrifying.”
((NARRATOR))
Trying to put the memories of war behind her, Alekhnovych — who was a fitness employee in Kyiv — recently landed a job here in finance.
((NARRATOR))
She wishes to return to Ukraine one day, but news that Russian forces are continuing their advance means going back is too risky right now.
((Margharyta Alekhnovych, Ukrainian Refugee FEMALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
“My hope is to see my country safe.”
((NARRATOR))
There is also the hope for Tetiana Karpyshyn, a former accountant from Chernobyl who left Ukraine for Britain with her daughter.
((Tetiana Karpyshyn, Ukrainian Refugee)) ((Female in English))
“I will be ready to get back when I will be sure that nothing could happen, for example, to my home. It’s safe, it’s calm and my daughter will be in a safe place.”
((NARRATOR))
For now, her only choice is to find work in her new home.
((Tetiana Karpyshyn, Ukrainian Refugee – FEMALE IN ENGLISH))
“I’m looking for a job. Basically I’m ready to get back to Ukraine even tomorrow, but I realized I couldn’t because it’s still not safe.”
((NARRATOR))
Britain’s labor shortage has left millions of vacancies in many industries, including health care, agriculture and construction. Companies are blaming Brexit for reducing the number of European Union workers in Britain, as well as the aftereffects of the pandemic.
A British Chambers of Commerce survey says 75% of companies are having difficulties hiring.
((NARRATOR))
Ralph Baker-Cresswell, co-manager of Northumberland’s Budle Hall Hotel is Karpyshyn’s host. He believes Ukrainians seeking work is helping offset the worker shortage.
((Ralph Baker-Cresswell, British Host - MALE IN ENGLISH)) ((00:19))
“I think it’s a super good fit, and I think the self-interest part of it is critical, so of course we want to help people and we are grateful we are not suffering what they are suffering, but the fact that there is a massive shortage of labor, especially in Northumberland, but all over UK, plays to the Ukrainians’ advantage I think.”
((NARRATOR))
Fedir and Valeria Skrypnyk recently left Ukraine with their four children and now live in Leeds. Fedir now works in construction and say they plan to work in Britain for as long as possible.
((Fedir Skrypnyk, Ukrainian Refugee – MALE IN ENGLISH))
“Here we plan, for example, to have both good work, pay taxes and after three years, while our visa works, we expect for some prolongation.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Tommy Walker, VOA News)) ((AUDIO TOMMY OUTRO 11) 00:23
For now, the Ukrainians who have resettled in Britain are looking to get on with their lives and have some form of normality back. The question is, when the war ends in Ukraine, will they decide to stay in Britain, or will they want to go home to Ukraine?
((TOMMY WALKER, FOR VOA NEWS, NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Newcastle, Britain
Embargo DateAugust 11, 2022 16:02 EDT
Byline((TOMMY WALKER,
FOR VOA NEWS, NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
