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UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale meets with Ukrainian workers' and employers' organizations on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction
Matthias Schmale, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, held a meeting with representatives from Ukraine's workers’ and employers’ organizations. The dialogue, hosted at the ILO Country Office in Kyiv, underscored the critical role of social partners (Workers` and Employers` Organizations) in driving Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction efforts amidst the ongoing challenges caused by the war.
28 November 2024
KYIV, UKRAINE - (ILO News) The meeting brought together leaders of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU), the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU), the Federation of Employers of Ukraine (FEU), the Association of Employers’ Organizations of Ukraine (AEOU), and the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine (CEU). These national-level organizations represent the collective voice of workers and employers in rebuilding Ukraine’s economy and safeguarding social protection during this unprecedented crisis and are instrumental in fostering economic resilience and advancing the International Labour Standards.
Participants outlined shared priorities, including strengthening social dialogue, enhancing labour rights protections during the war, strategically investing in skills development to address labour shortages, and advancing joint recovery efforts to rebuild back better.
“We deeply admire the extraordinary resilience of Ukrainians and the pivotal role of workers` and employers` organizations in fostering stability, safeguarding employment, supporting enterprises, protecting workers’ rights, and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations remains committed to ensuring inclusive social dialogue remains a cornerstone for sustainable recovery, in particular as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework,” said Matthias Schmale.
Social dialogue as a path to recovery
The discussions highlighted the urgent need for inclusive social dialogue to shape Ukraine’s socio-economic agenda, including labour law reforms, sustainable recovery strategies, and reconstruction efforts aligned with International Labour Standards and EU Directives. Matthias Schmale reiterated the UN's commitment to fostering meaningful consultations, involving social partners, as voices of workers and business community, in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Ukraine for 2025 – 2029, and advocating for their broader representation in platforms dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery efforts.
Support for productive employment, decent job creation and economic resilience
Both Employers’ and Workers’ organizations underscored the urgent need to expand initiatives that address labour shortages by prioritizing reskilling and upskilling, fostering women’s economic empowerment—including their transition into traditionally male-dominated sectors—and enhancing labour market integration for war veterans, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). They also stressed the importance of introducing and expanding workplace mental health and psychosocial support programmes. In cooperation with the ILO, social partners have already implemented successful initiatives addressing these challenges, and these good practices can be scaled up through further collaboration with the UN family in Ukraine.
Challenges for workers’ rights protection
Trade unions raised concerns over the violation of fundamental labour rights in the occupied territories, including forced employment under new contracts, mandatory membership in Russian unions, violations of occupational safety and health standards, and cases of coerced citizenship changes under threat. They emphasized the importance of proper documentation of such cases for future accountability and expressed their readiness to support efforts in reporting and documenting these violations.
The meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of the international community and Ukraine`s social partners to rebuild a resilient, equitable, and decent future for all Ukrainians.