The tripartite consultation workshop brought together more than fifty participants for an open and constructive prioritization exercise on how decent work can drive a fair and inclusive recovery, guided by the principles of social dialogue. The new programme will succeed the ILO's Transitional Cooperation Strategy (2024-2025) and continue building on three decades of support to Ukraine in supporting the labour reforms, strengthening social dialogue and labour market institutions, employable skills and decent jobs creation, productive enterprises and enhanced social protection systems.
A shared vision for inclusive economic recovery
The workshop opened with a high-level panel featuring Aida Lindmeier, Director of the ILO Office for Ukraine; Matthias Schmale, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine; Emmanuel Julien, ILO Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia; Daria Marchak, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine; Vasyl Andreev, Deputy Chair of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine and Chair of the Construction Workers' Union; and Serhii Prokhorov, Deputy Chair of the Association of Employers' Organizations of Ukraine.
In her opening remarks, Ms Lindmeier underlined the importance of partnership and national ownership, describing the new programme as a joint effort to rebuild the world of work on stronger, fairer, and more inclusive foundations.
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We are meeting at a critical moment. Ukraine is navigating extraordinary challenges, rebuilding infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that the future of work is just, inclusive, and sustainable. In this context, the DWCP will serve as a vital tool: a shared framework through which we can deliver tangible, coordinated results with greater scale and impact. The Decent Work Country Programme provides a framework to guide our collective efforts towards a resilient and inclusive recovery, one that catalyses Ukraine's efforts in its path to the European Union"
Aida Lindmeier, Director of the ILO Office for Ukraine
Mr Schmale and Mr Julien both emphasized that decent work and social justice must remain at the core of Ukraine's recovery and development efforts.
"The launch of the Decent Work Country Programme marks a new chapter in our shared commitment to support the rebuilding of Ukraine through fairness, inclusion, and dignity in work. Guided by our new Development Cooperation Framework, the UN system is firmly committed to working with the Government, workers, and employers to ensure that decent work is the foundation of Ukraine's sustainable future."
Matthias Schmale, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine
Tripartite representatives - Ms Marchak, Mr Andreev, and Mr Prokhorov - shared their commitment to advancing social dialogue and ensuring that ongoing reforms deliver tangible benefits for workers and employers alike. On top of it, Ms Marchak emphasized that decent work remains one of the Government's core recovery priorities, linking fair employment, adequate wages, and social justice to the country's long-term stability and growth.
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Facilitated by Specialists from ILOs Decent Work Team from Budapest and Kyiv, the workshop demonstrated a genuine collective effort to shape a shared vision and a strong spirit of cooperation among Ukraine's social partners. The forthcoming Decent Work Country Programme 2026-2029 will consolidate this shared commitment to guide ILOs support to Ukraine.
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"It is important that the Decent Work Country Programme clearly defines what each of the tripartite partners - workers' organizations, employers' organizations, and the Government of Ukraine -aims to achieve. From the ILO's side, our focus is on ensuring that the programme is clear, coherent, and results-oriented. We hope it will serve as a concise and focused framework that strengthens collaboration among the tripartite partners and with the ILO."
Emmanuel Julien, ILO Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia
The DWCP is planned to be signed in the first quarter of 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between the ILO and Ukraine's tripartite constituents, defined by shared responsibility, social dialogue, decent work and social justice as the foundation of lasting recovery.
