Tripartite meetings begin in Kyiv to finalise draft of new Labour Code

On 24 July, a series of tripartite consultations commenced in Kyiv between the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, representatives of employers and trade unions, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to finalise the updated draft of Ukraine’s Labour Code. The first meeting focused on discussing provisions of Book I — the general part of the Code, which outlines the fundamental principles of labour law, terminology, structure, and foundations of social dialogue.

The event was moderated by Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Tetiana Berezhna. Participants included representatives of the Government, the Joint Representative Body of Employers, the Joint Representative Body of Trade Unions at the national level, Ukrainian parliamentarians, academics, and ILO experts.

These consultations mark the next step in implementing the commitments outlined in the Tripartite Memorandum on Labour Market Reform, signed at the URC 2025 conference in Rome with the participation of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the ILO, the World Bank, and the European Trade Union Confederation.

“We are beginning the final stage of developing a new Labour Code to replace the current one, adopted during soviet times. This document aims to serve as a modern framework for labour relations in Ukraine, safeguarding workers’ rights, ensuring conditions for business operations, and embedding European principles of decent work. The reform is being carried out through constructive dialogue with trade unions, employers, and international partners, providing an opportunity to create labour legislation that meets both the needs of the economy and the standards of the EU and ILO,” said Deputy Minister Tetiana Berezhna.

The draft of the new Labour Code, developed over the past year with technical input from ILO experts, envisages modernising the regulation of labour relations in Ukraine. Key priorities include strengthening social dialogue institutions, ensuring equal opportunities, enhancing transparency in labour practices, and bolstering social protection for workers, particularly in the context of post-war recovery.

Aida Lindmeier, Director of the International Labour Organization’s Country Office for Ukraine, stated that the signing of the Memorandum in Rome opened the path to eliminating remaining obstacles to finalising the Labour Code. She noted that there was now a mutual recognition that social dialogue could act as an effective mechanism for the three parties to align labour legislation with international standards, which held particular importance in the context of post-war recovery.

Further consultations are planned as thematic meetings on specific sections of the draft Labour Code. The ILO will continue to provide technical support, ensuring a transparent, inclusive, and constructive dialogue platform, with financial backing from the Government of Canada.

Background

• The current Labour Code of Ukraine was adopted in 1971 (based on the soviet Labour Code) and has undergone only partial amendments since then.
• Development of the new Labour Code began in 2022. Since 2023, the process has been conducted in close collaboration with the ILO, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the World Bank, and other international partners.
• In July 2025, Ukraine signed the Tripartite Memorandum on Labour Market Reform at the URC 2025 conference in Rome, laying the foundation for the final phase of agreeing on the new labour legislation.
• The reform is part of Ukraine’s European integration process and its commitments under the EU Association Agreement.