Child labor in Ukraine: from what age can you work and what rights does the law guarantee?

Ukrainian legislation establishes special rules for the employment of minors, which are designed to protect their health, safety and right to education. For persons under 18 years of age, there are separate requirements regarding the age of employment, working hours, working conditions, vacations and dismissal procedure.

The State Labor Service of Ukraine reminded about the main guarantees for minor employees.

From what age is it allowed to work

According to the general rule, it is possible to officially get a job in Ukraine from the age of 16.

At the same time, the law provides for exceptions:

from 15 years of age – with the written consent of one of the parents or a person replacing them;

from 14 years of age – only for performing light work in free time from studies and also with the consent of one of the parents or a guardian.

For minor employees, the employer is obliged to provide additional guarantees. In particular, they are not subject to a probationary period (with some exceptions during martial law), a preliminary medical examination is mandatory, and until they reach the age of 21, such employees undergo medical examinations every year.

In addition, the employer must keep separate records of employees who are not yet 18 years old.

What is the length of working hours

A reduced working week is established for minors.

The maximum working hours are:

24 hours per week for employees aged 15 to 16, as well as students aged 14–15 during the holidays;

36 hours per week for persons aged 16 to 18.

If a teenager is studying at the same time, the permissible working hours are even less:

up to 12 hours per week for persons aged 15–16;

up to 18 hours per week for employees aged 16–18.
How is work paid

Despite reduced working hours, minor employees are entitled to the same remuneration as adult employees of the appropriate qualification for the full working day.

If students work only in their free time from school, wages are paid in proportion to the time worked or depending on the volume of work performed.

Vacation for minors

Employees under the age of 18 are entitled to annual paid leave lasting 31 calendar days.

Its features:

vacation is granted at a time convenient for the employee;
it can be obtained even before the end of six months of continuous work;
the employer has no right to replace it with monetary compensation or refuse to provide it.
What work is prohibited

The law prohibits engaging minors in:

heavy work;
work with harmful or dangerous working conditions;
underground work;
night work, overtime work and work on weekends;
activities related to the sale, storage or transportation of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and explosives.

Minors may also not be involved in work related exclusively to lifting and moving heavy loads. Such work is permitted only in the absence of medical contraindications, within the established norms and for no more than a third of working time.

Features of dismissal

Dismissal of a minor employee at the initiative of the employer is possible only with the prior consent of the district or city service for children.

In the event of staff reduction, liquidation of the enterprise or other grounds provided for by law, such dismissal is permitted only in exceptional cases and subject to mandatory further employment of the employee.

In addition, parents, adoptive parents, guardians or state control bodies may demand termination of employment relations if the work performed threatens the health of the minor or violates his or her legitimate rights and interests.

Thus, Ukrainian legislation allows for the official employment of minors, but employers are required to comply with special requirements aimed at ensuring safe working conditions and proper protection of children’s rights.