Heinz Koller highlighted in his opening remarks that the ILO technical cooperation portfolio with Ukraine is one of the largest in the region with a budget of more than 12 Mio USD.  ILO support spans across a number of technical topics from employment creation, wage protection, formalizing work to entrepreneurs’ training, with high priority given to the effective application of international labour standards and the ratification of new standards.  Ukraine has been a valued member and partner of the ILO. The country ratified 71 ILO Conventions since it joined in 1954.

Mr. Koller stressed that rights at work are human rights. Rights at work have become central to ILO technical cooperation, which assists the Government and social partners to adjust to core international labour standards.  The growing wage arrears, the reported violations of freedom of association, the prevalent undeclared work and pension rights of the conflict-affected population have long been in the ILO focus in Ukraine. COVID-19 aggravated some of these issues and called for new, strengthened partnerships. 

Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova welcomed the partnership, and marked with satisfaction  the strengthened collaboration with the ILO over the past months on longstanding problems in Ukraine such as undeclared work and wage arrears. Currently, the State Statistical Office reports 3.3 Mio people in informal employment and the actual number is likely to be even higher. Wage arrears continue to be a massive problem, unpaid wages increased by 25% from January to November in 2020.  Ms. Denisova explained that decent work is not possible without respect of the right to safe, healthy and declared work, and the full and  timely payment of wages.  The Commissioner plans to collaborate with the ILO in promoting fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, addressing pay equity, elimination of forced and child labour and combatting discrimination at the workplace.  The ILO with its unique expertise and instruments for legal and practical solutions will be a solid partner in this work.