A Belarusian Chef's Struggle for Better Pay in Germany's Tough Job Market
Pavel, a 36-year-old chef from Belarus, left his job in search of new opportunities abroad. His journey took him to Germany, where he first worked in a warehouse before moving into construction. The experience revealed both the challenges and small victories of life as a migrant worker.
Pavel's first job in Germany came through a Polish agency he found on Instagram. The role was in a warehouse near Cologne, where he earned between €1,100 and €1,300 per month. There, he noticed wage differences—Turkish workers received higher pay, while Belarusians like himself were often paid by piecework.
After some time, Pavel and a friend relocated to Hamburg. They initially stayed in a hostel with poor living conditions, sharing space with heavy drinkers. Their next job was on a construction site, starting at €7 per hour. Within a month, their wage rose to €8, a small but meaningful increase they marked by converting their earnings into Belarusian rubles.
Pavel's move to Germany highlighted the realities of migrant labour, from unstable housing to uneven pay. Though the work was tough, the wage increase offered a brief moment of progress. His story reflects the broader experiences of many seeking better opportunities abroad.
