Amid the full-scale war, Metinvest Group remains one of the largest employers and taxpayers in Ukraine. The Group is doing everything it can to retain its workforce and help people get through these difficult times. 

Everyone needs support in turbulent times. Metinvest is this support for thousands of Ukrainians, providing them with jobs, stable salaries, and comfortable and safe working conditions. At the same time, it takes care of the urgent needs of employees and their families who have been affected by the war. The Group helps them with housing, food, medicines and clothing, as well as physical and psychological rehabilitation. All this is being done to retain the human resource potential for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

See the longread to learn about the main projects that are helping the Group’s employees. Some of them are being implemented as part of the Saving Lives humanitarian initiative created by Metinvest in coordination with Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

HOUSING

Due to the full-scale invasion, Metinvest temporarily lost control over its facilities in Mariupol, which is now under occupation. In addition, Avdiivka Coke's operations were stopped due to enemy shelling of this frontline city. Nevertheless, the Group has done everything possible to keep its employees in Ukrainian controlled areas. 

Despite the hostilities, Metinvest managed to evacuate about 20,000 people from Mariupol and Avdiivka. The primary need faced by people was to find housing. The Group has prepared more than 6,000 temporary accommodation places to provide shelter for Ukrainians. Employees of Metinvest’s enterprises can stay in the shelters with their families free of charge. 

“A strong, united team is, has been and will always be the Metinvest’s most valuable asset. That is why, amid the war, the Group is allocating the maximum available resources to support its employees. We need to make sure that our people are as safe as they possibly can be, get paid decently, and have the resources to continue their professional development. We are grateful to everyone who is bringing our victory closer with their work. Each of you is a point of support for the Group for each other and for Ukraine," Yuriy RYZHENKOV, CEO of Metinvest Group, said. 

At the beginning of the war, Metinvest also launched the Housing for Our Employees corporate programme to support displaced employees. As part of this project, the Group's employees provided housing for displaced colleagues, and the Group reimbursed the costs. 

Employees of Metinvest's foreign assets are also helping their Ukrainian colleagues whose homes have been lost or severely damaged. Recently, 75 families with two or more minor children received monetary certificates for housing improvement. They were purchased with donations from people outside Ukraine to the Do It Together charity fund under Saving Lives.

Since the beginning of the war, Zaporizhstal has run a separate programme to repair housing for its employees. Teams from the plant help people with initial repairs. They dismantle and replace damaged roofing materials, windows and doors, and perform plastering or cosmetic repairs to apartments and private houses. Zaporizhstal employees are also eligible to receive financial payments to rebuild their homes. Currently, the programme provides assistance to nearly 100 employees of Zaporizhstal and other enterprises in the city. The Group has already allocated more than UAH1.2 million for this purpose.

CAREER

Amid the war, Metinvest is helping Ukrainians find jobs so that they can provide themselves and their families with a stable income. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Group has employed more than 7,000 people, including people from Mariupol and Avdiivka, at its facilities in Pokrovske, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih and Kamianske. 

Jobs are allocated according to people's qualifications, and, if necessary, there is the opportunity to undergo retraining at the Group's expense. Financial support in the form of various types of compensation, relocation allowances, social benefits, and guaranteed wages provided to displaced workers helps them to settle and start a new life much more quickly.

“I am very pleased that Metinvest has not forgotten about its employees, helps Mariupol residents with jobs, and provides temporary housing and relocation allowances. Now I feel confident about the future, financially stable, albeit still shaky, but calm. And most importantly, I am safe," Pavel LOGACHOV, a resident of Mariupol, and now an employee of Zaporizhogneupor, said. 

In order to retain the teams at enterprises operating at less than full capacity, the Group has engaged employees in repair work and landscaping while maintaining their basic salaries.

Currently, there is a need to strengthen the team at Metinvest Pokrovske Coal. Also, more than 300 vacancies have recently been opened at the assets in Zaporizhzhia. They are looking for steel casters, rollers, sinter operators, crane operators, repairmen, railcar speed controllers, loaders and others. The Group offers official employment, regular payments, and a full social package – everything that provides you with support in difficult times. And dormitory rooms are provided for Ukrainians who live in other cities.

The enterprises have set up bomb shelters to make employees feel safer during their shifts. The shelters have everything that might need: drinking water, food, medicines, and communications equipment. The Group also provides first-aid training for employees, improves working conditions and transportation, and provides free fuel for domestic use. For example, during the last winter, Metinvest’s Pokrovske Coal enterprise provided its employees with 7,500 tonnes of coal to heat their homes, worth almost UAH48 million. 

In addition, the challenges of the war did not stop the programme of professional training for young people at the mining and metallurgical assets. In autumn of 2022, 442 students began to study engineering at Metinvest Polytechnic. This opportunity is provided free of charge for Metinvest’s employees and their children. The university is currently running its second admissions campaign.

MOBILISED EMPLOYEES

By supporting employees who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Metinvest contributes to strengthening the country's defence capabilities. The Group provides all its mobilised employees (more than 8,000 people) with bulletproof vests, helmets and warm clothing. UAH12 million was allocated to purchase thermal underwear, thermal socks, warm balaclavas, fleece gloves and foil insoles. Metinvest also delivers equipment, machinery and other items requested by the defenders to the units where they serve. All mobilised employees keep their jobs while they serve.

FOOD AND SUPPLIES

Creating comfort for displaced employees and providing them with the basic necessities is another priority for Metinvest. In particular, the Group has equipped its shelters with everything that might be needed, including appliances, furniture and other household items. Special attention is paid to children: playrooms are set up for them, toys and books are purchased, and educational and entertainment is provided. The residents of the shelters also receive systematic support from Saving Lives. Food and hygiene products are delivered to them.

In addition to IDPs, Metinvest's humanitarian project provides food and hygiene kits to employees who have not left their hometowns and workplaces but still need support. These include families of mobilised workers and those in special categories, such as large families, single mothers, Chernobyl liquidators and people with disabilities. Pensioners who previously worked at the enterprises also receive the packages. 

“In such an economically difficult time for everyone, assistance for employees and our families is very important. The Saving Lives project provides real care for Ukrainians who are working for victory," Denys ANDRIENKO, a steel caster at Kamet Steel, said.

In total, Saving Lives has already helped almost half a million Ukrainians. Since the start of the full-scale war, 4,162 tonnes of essential supplies have been delivered from Polish hubs to distribution centres in Ukraine. In particular, the packages contain long-term storage products: flour, sugar, pasta, canned food, sunflower oil, etc. Donor partners have provided more than €2.7 million in gifts and donations during the more than one year of the humanitarian project’s existence. 

REHABILITATION

An important area of Metinvest's activities is the implementation of the physical and psychological rehabilitation programme run by Saving Lives. Together with Protez Hub, the humanitarian project is returning military and civilians who suffered during the war to normal lives. Currently, 48 people are receiving assistance, including 13 who have already received their prostheses. Employees of the Group's enterprises are also able take advantage of this opportunity.

In times of war, it is equally important to take care of the mental health of employees and their families. To this end, Metinvest Together, a psychological support service set up at the beginning of the full-scale war, has provided 3,400 group and individual consultations. Counsellors are able to work with people in any emotional state, so they help people overcome anxiety, fear, apathy and other problems.

Another psychological support project is Unbreakable Mum, which is being implemented by Masha Foundation and Saving Lives. So far, 194 people have participated in it. These are Metinvest employees, wives of the Group's employees and their children who have been affected by the war. Over a three-week period, mothers and children work with psychologists, helping them to significantly improve their health and find their own set of practical exercises to help them overcome stress.

Prosthetics and the Unbreakable Mum project are part of Metinvest's comprehensive programme to reintegrate war veterans and affected civilians into society.