Ukrainian Undeclared Work Survey: First Findings

Abstract

This paper presents the first findings of the Ukrainian Undeclared Work Survey (UUDWS) that was conducted in the end of 2017. UUDWS is a direct method that aims to estimate the size and the nature of the undeclared work in Ukraine. This is the first survey of its kind in Ukraine and it takes into account both the demand and the supply side of the undeclared work in Ukraine. Our findings reveal that about 7 % of the respondents admitted having worked undeclared in the past 12 months, whereas about 46 % know someone who works undeclared, and every third respondent estimated that at least 50 % of the population of Ukraine work undeclared. The majority of the undeclared workers are between 35 to 54 years old, live in urban areas, and consider themselves asunemployed, employees, and self-employed. The main undeclared activities provided include home maintenance or home improvement services, selling farm produced food, gardening, car repairs, and selling goods/services associated with their hobbies. Among the main reasons for working undeclared are difficulties to find a regular job, seasonal nature of the work, common practice to work undeclared, the fact that the State does not do anything for people, and mutual benefit from undeclared work. The results contend that Ukrainian employees have low protection in terms of their salary, as a significant part is paid in the “envelope”. Finally, informal work generates on average a lower income than the formal one. In our research in progress, we address the perceptions and acceptance of undeclared work in Ukraine, as well as assess its main determinants.Article received 30.04.2018