On 22 October, government representatives, social partners, and international experts gathered in Kyiv for a strategic session to develop the next Action Plan for the National Strategy to Close the Gender Pay Gap (2023-2030). The event, co-organized by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture and the International Labour Organization (ILO), marked a new step in turning national commitments on gender equality into concrete actions that improve the lives of working people across Ukraine.
Why This Session Matters
For Ukraine, closing the gender pay gap is more than meeting international obligations - it is about fairness, opportunity, and the country's future. Before the full-scale invasion, the average pay gap between women and men stood at 18.6%. Despite the immense challenges of war, Ukraine has set itself an ambitious goal: to reduce the gap by at least five percentage points by 2030.
Oleh Hnatiuk, Director of the State Labour Department at the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture called equal pay policies a mark of a mature society.
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Introducing equal pay policies is a sign of a mature society. More and more women are joining the economy, leading organizations, and mastering professions once considered male-dominated. We are also working on a new Labour Code that integrates the 2023 EU Pay Transparency Directive and international labour standards, giving women legal tools to ensure equal pay for work of equal value
Oleh Hnatiuk, Director of the State Labour Department
The ILO continues to support Ukraine in translating its commitment to pay equality and equity into practice, helping strengthen national policies, legislation, and institutions. Emmanuel Julien, ILO Deputy Director of the ILO RO for Europe and Central Asia, noted that achieving equal pay is not only a matter of justice, but also a cornerstone of inclusive recovery: "Closing the gender pay gap is essential for ensuring meaningful participation in the labour market. And in times of war, this becomes even more urgent for Ukraine's recovery." Equal pay policies, he added, strengthen family incomes, retain skilled women in the workforce, and foster social trust - all essential for rebuilding a fair and resilient economy.
Inside the Session
The day's discussions focused on translating the National Strategy to Close the Gender Pay Gap (2023-2030) into a detailed Action Plan. Developed with strong ILO technical support and through tripartite dialogue, the Strategy aligns with the EU acquis on equal treatment and pay transparency and contributes to Ukraine's obligations under trade frameworks such as the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), which references International Labour Standards.
Participants - representatives of the Ministry of Economy, the Office of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, the State Labour Service, the State Employment Service, trade unions, and employers' organizations, ILO experts, UN Women - reviewed progress to date and identified key priorities for 2026-2027.
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Aida Lindmeier, Director of ILO Country Office for Ukraine, stressed that gender equality means more than simply opening doors.
Many women entering male-dominated fields are not just filling gaps left by men. They are making a career change. To help them stay and thrive, we must ensure decent working conditions, a supportive environment, and real opportunities for growth. This requires close cooperation between government, employers, trade unions, and international partners.
Aida Lindmeier, Director of ILO Country Office for Ukraine
Emiliia Nitsevych, from the Office of the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, linked the session to Ukraine's global commitments under the Biarritz Partnership for Gender Equality: "Our task is to analyze the current labour market situation and develop practical steps for the coming years to make another real leap toward closing the pay gap," she said.
Throughout the day, participants explored practical ways to improve pay transparency, introduce gender-neutral job evaluation, strengthen data systems, and link pay equity to care infrastructure development - areas where the ILO and UN Women continue to provide joint expertise and support.
Moving Forward
The session closed on a note of shared purpose. Participants identified the key challenges standing in the way of equal pay and developed proposals to the action plan as practical solutions to overcome them.
The ILO will now consolidate the session's findings and contributions by the participants into a unified document to be shared with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, which will continue leading the finalization and implementation of the Action Plan.
This joint effort reflects a broader truth: even in wartime, Ukraine's commitment to equality remains steadfast. By ensuring equal pay for equal value, the country is building not just a fairer labour market, but a stronger, more cohesive society ready for recovery and European integration.
