ILO and EU launch a project to strengthen Ukraine’s Labour Market Governance.

Oct 2025 : International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU) are investing €3.8 million to modernise Ukraine’s labour-market institutions, strengthen social dialogue, align legislation with ILS and EU law, and prioritise inclusion of women, youth, veterans, displaced persons and people with disabilities.

The European Union and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have launched a three-year project, “Promoting Inclusive Labour Market Governance Reform in Support of Ukraine’s Reconstruction and EU Accession”. The agreement was signed by Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine and Aida Lindmeier, Director of the ILO Country Office for Ukraine.

The project will strengthen labour market institutions and ensure that the recovery and EU integration are fair, inclusive and focused on people. Implemented by the ILO, the initiative will support the Government of Ukraine, employers and workers’ organisations in advancing labour reforms that promote decent work, equal opportunities and social justice.

Sergiy Savchuk, ILO Project Manager, who highlighted that the project will:

• Strengthen social dialogue between the government, employers and trade unions on Ukraine’s recovery and EU accession through technical assistance, policy advice and facilitation of tripartite consultations on key labour reforms.

• Build the skills and capacity of labour institutions and professionals, including policymakers, labour inspectors, judges, as well as organisations of workers’ and employers’, through training, peer learning and expert support to apply international labour standards and EU law in practice.

• Modernise employment services to help displaced persons, women, youth and war veterans to get decent employment opportunities.

Create new possibilities for young people through the development of Ukraine’s first Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, inspired by EU experience.

• Support fair and transparent labour laws aligned with international and EU standards to bring Ukraine closer to its European future.

The initiative also seeks to rebuild trust between social partners, promote fairness in employment and strengthen resilience across Ukraine’s world of work, keeping people at the centre of recovery and reconstruction.

Katarína Mathernová́, Ambassador of the EU to Ukraine, in her statement has affirmed that:

“The European Union stands firmly with Ukraine as it advances on its path toward EU accession and post-war recovery. Through this project, we are supporting the creation of a more inclusive and resilient labour market – one that empowers workers, strengthens institutions, and upholds European and international labour standards. By promoting effective social dialogue and ensuring that women, youth, displaced persons, people with disabilities, and veterans can fully participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction, we are helping to build a future rooted in dignity, fairness, and opportunity for all Ukrainians“.

Aida Lindmeier highlighted the importance of the project in helping Ukraine align its labour legislation with international labour standards and the related EU acquis and giving new momentum to an inclusive Labour Code. She reiterated:

“As Ukraine pursues its ambitious reform agenda alongside inclusive economic recovery efforts, effective tripartite consultation and institutional capacity building are essential. This project will help address structural labour market challenges while fostering collective ownership of the recovery process”.

This partnership reaffirms the EU and ILO’s shared commitment to advancing decent work, social justice and sustainable recovery in Ukraine.

Team Maverick