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Ukraine Prepares ‘Epoch-Making’ Labor Code Reform to Modernize Employment Rules

by Roman Cheplyk
Monday, August 18, 2025
1 MIN
Ukraine Prepares ‘Epoch-Making’ Labor Code Reform to Modernize Employment Rules

New legislation to replace Soviet-era 1971 framework, expand flexible work models, and digitize labor relations

Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy plans to submit a completely new Labor Code to parliament this year, replacing the outdated 1971 law still governing employment. According to Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, the draft — developed jointly with lawmakers and trade unions — will introduce modern forms of employment, enable digital HR record-keeping, and support greater labor market flexibility.

The government aims to pass the code in the first reading within 2025, calling it an “epoch-making” reform aligned with Ukraine’s independence-era needs and EU integration. Agreement on final provisions with social partners is expected over the next two weeks. The overhaul signals long-anticipated modernization of labor rules, creating clearer conditions for flexible contracts, digital workplaces, and investor-friendly workforce regulation.

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