We will consider the changes in Ukraine support and business. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the international community and had a major impact on the global economy. How will the war in Ukraine change the business environment? How should we, as businessmen, respond to these rapidly changing times? Here, we will consider support for Ukraine, changes in the business environment, and future business.
From around 2020, restrictions on economic activities due to the effects of the new coronavirus, which has become more serious, will gradually be eased, and the corona crisis may soon pass and the economy might improve. The Ukrainian War began at that time, and many people must have been shocked.
Both Ukraine and Russia were once part of the Soviet Union. The war is said to have originated from the 2014 Euromaidan uprising (Maidan revolution), the Crimean crisis (Russia's annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol) and the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk regions). There are many opinions on the background of the Ukrainian war, and I will not discuss them in depth here.
Japan voted in favor of a resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops at the United Nations General Assembly on March 2. Also, acceptance of Ukrainian war refugees and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine will be provided by the government and the private sector. Assistance to Ukraine by the Japanese government is basically limited to humanitarian aid, and the Japanese government takes a stance of not being complicit in military assistance to Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has also had a major impact on the business environment. Due to the war and economic sanctions against Russia, energy and food prices have soared, and the supply chain for raw materials has also been affected. Demand for relief supplies and stockpiles is expected to increase, and the military industry is expected to develop due to an increase in the defense budget.
Businessmen are required to pay attention to such rapid changes in the international community and respond appropriately.
First, get the situation right. A correct understanding of the situation is essential for making the right decisions as a business person. Believing wrong information can lead to wrong decisions and wrong actions. It is important not to believe biased propaganda or conspiracy theories that are clearly untrue, even if they are wrong.
Economic sanctions have been imposed on Russia as a result of the war. In a situation where it is not possible to predict when the war will end, it is also impossible to predict when the sanctions will be lifted. Many of the companies already in Russia have either suspended their business or been forced to withdraw as long as the sanctions remain. Business expansion with Russia cannot be expected for the time being, but some people may think that this is an opportunity.
Japan will need to once again work to strengthen manufacturing. Supply chain risk management and energy and food security are issues that need to be addressed immediately. At the same time, strengthening the system to earn foreign currency through manufacturing is essential for improving Japan's competitiveness. The future of Japan will be greatly influenced by whether we can return to the basics of manufacturing, identify the issues that Japan faces, and build a manufacturing system that will be an asset in the future.
Accepting Ukrainian war refugees has resulted in an unprecedented number of Ukrainians staying in Japan. With no end in sight to the war, they do not know when they will be able to return to their home countries. Some of them study Japanese very hard, and some of them are learning Japanese very quickly. There are also people who are suitable for intellectual work such as IT, but it is said that it is difficult to find a job in Japan. The acceptance of war refugees like this one also highlights the challenges faced by foreign workers in Japan. Even if we have people with skills, it would be a waste if we could not make good use of them. It can be said that Japan will continue to face issues such as matching foreign workers with job openings that are suitable for skilled intellectual work and strengthening Japanese language education for business. In addition, it may be useful for Japanese people to improve their language skills by learning how to learn foreign languages efficiently from Ukrainians who are quick to learn Japanese.
As of September 2022, Ukraine is at war and the situation remains critical. But eventually the war will end. It is also important for business to take the initiative in making various preparations now, looking ahead to the end of the war. (September 2022)
The development of the Internet has also brought about major changes in the way private sector support should be. Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainians who are knowledgeable about IT and good at information dissemination have been disseminating various information. Some Japanese support organizations are able to communicate with them, grasp information on where and what kind of support is needed, and realize real-time support. An unprecedented initiative has begun to deliver the necessary support to those who need it in real time.
What kind of people are Ukrainians and how can they be evaluated as human resources? If I hire a Ukrainian, what kind of work should I do? Let's take a look at the points you want to keep in mind when hiring Ukrainians as human resources, such as the characteristics of Ukrainians, their way of thinking about work, language skills, specialties, and differences depending on age.
The beginning of the war changed the lives of Ukrainians and Russians living in Japan. For ordinary Japanese people, it is difficult to distinguish between Ukrainians and Russians. If a Ukrainian speaks Russian, some companies may try to get him to work in Russia-oriented business. But now that the war has started, it can hurt them.
How should wages be set when hiring Ukrainians? What wages do Ukrainians deserve? Consider what you should pay attention to when hiring Ukrainians. When setting wages, it is important to think about how to explain to Ukrainians that it is fair and justified.
If you hire Ukrainians, it is important to use them well and effectively. How can Ukrainians work effectively? How can they work effectively? On the other hand, how can things go wrong? Let's think about effective utilization of Ukrainians so as not to fail.
If the company president says to do business in Ukraine, it may be a dangerous sign for the company. If you really want to do business in Ukraine, that's fine, but it's not a good idea to start a business with bad intentions. It is said that many Ukrainian women are beautiful. However, if the president drowns in Ukrainian beauties, the company may be tilted.
