New Labor Code: Ukrainians want to increase vacation to 28 days and change employment rules

Ukraine has taken another step towards adopting a new Labor Code. The relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada recommended that the parliament adopt as a basis the government bill No. 16010, which provides for an increase in annual leave, new types of employment contracts, digitalization of labor relations, and changes in determining the minimum wage.

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights adopted the corresponding decision on September 25, 2026. The alternative bill No. 16010-1 is recommended to be rejected.

At the same time, the new rules are not yet in effect: bill No. 16010 has not yet been adopted by the Verkhovna Rada.

They want to increase the leave to 28 days

One of the most noticeable changes concerns the duration of the annual basic paid leave. It is proposed to increase it from the current 24 to 28 calendar days.

Separate changes are provided for parents. The bill proposes a paid leave for childcare for a total duration of four months, which can be used until the child reaches the age of eight. Each parent will be entitled to two months of such leave.

Nine types of employment contracts

The bill provides for nine types of employment contracts, as well as the possibility of concluding contracts that combine the conditions of different types.

Separately, it is proposed to introduce a contract for temporary, or agency, work and a student employment contract.

The latter will allow combining work with training directly at the workplace. Such a contract can be concluded with a person from 14 years of age for a period of up to six months.

How will employment relationships be defined

The bill prescribes eight signs of employment relationships. If at least five of them are present at the same time, the relationship is proposed to be recognized as employment.

Further digitalization of the labor sphere is also envisaged. Employees will be able to familiarize themselves with the employer’s documents in electronic format, and employment contracts can be concluded online. It is planned to keep records of labor activity in the register of insured persons.

The minimum wage is proposed to be determined in a new way

The draft law also changes the approach to setting the minimum wage.

It is proposed to determine it as a percentage of the average monthly salary by type of economic activity on average for the economy as of January 1 of the previous year. The specific percentage will be determined by the government.

What will change for pregnant workers

The draft provides for the possibility of involving pregnant workers, women who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, in night work, overtime and work on weekends.

However, this will be possible only with their written consent and provided that such work does not contradict medical recommendations.

The draft law also clarifies the provisions on the prohibition of forced and child labor, discrimination, mobbing and harassment.

How to resolve labor disputes

Individual labor disputes are planned to be resolved in three ways: through negotiations, mediation, or court.

For collective disputes, mediation, updating the procedures for declaring a strike, as well as the introduction of preventive strike and lockout institutions are envisaged.

Separately, the draft law provides for the protection of employees from criminal and administrative prosecution for participating in a legal strike.

Important: for now, this is only a draft law. The profile committee recommended that the Verkhovna Rada include No. 16010 on the agenda and adopt it as a basis in the first reading. For the proposed norms to enter into force, the document must undergo further parliamentary procedure.