Webinar for Ukrainian judges and court employees on the application of international labour standards in national court practice

Over 170 Ukrainian judges and court employees joined a webinar on the application of international labour standards (ILS) in national court practice. Held online, the event marked the final stage of a multi-phase training programme organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in cooperation with the National School of Judges of Ukraine.

Opening the event, Aida Lindmeier, Director of the ILO Country Office for Ukraine, stressed that as Ukraine advances on its European integration path, judges will increasingly need to apply both international labour standards and EU standards. “The strong coherence between these frameworks provides a solid basis for addressing complex labour law cases. Together with the EU, the ILO will continue supporting this process through a new project on labour market governance, including the judiciary,” she noted.

The training was delivered by a group of Ukrainian judges who had earlier completed a dedicated Training of Trainers programme at the ITCILO in Turin in July 2025. Specifically designed for Ukrainian participants, this course focused on strengthening their capacity to lead peer-to-peer learning on applying ILS in judicial decision-making. The content was tailored to local realities, using actual Ukrainian case law to ensure maximum relevance and ownership.

As noted by Nataliia Shuklina, Vice-Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, this was the first time the judiciary had focused in depth on applying international labour standards in domestic court practice — a significant shift from the previous emphasis on interpreting national legislation alone.

Today, these newly trained facilitators led thematic sessions on key areas where ILS offer practical value for adjudication: freedom of association and collective bargaining, forced labour, non-discrimination and equality, occupational safety and health, and termination of employment.

The programme combined legal analysis, real-life case studies, interactive exercises, and the use of ILO databases and supervisory guidance to deepen understanding and build skills for using ILS in judicial reasoning.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate international labour standards into Ukrainian jurisprudence and promote more balanced, consistent, and rights-based resolutions to labour disputes.