The State Labor Service will receive new powers: the Cabinet of Ministers launches a reform of the service

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has begun reforming the State Labor Service of Ukraine. As part of the changes, the agency will receive new functions in the areas of the labor market, employment of people with disabilities, chemical safety, and subsoil use.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the start of the renewal of the State Labor Service.

According to her, the service should focus more on protecting the labor rights of citizens, employee safety, and forming fair rules in the labor market.

“Some of the functions that duplicated the work of other bodies or have lost their relevance will be canceled. Instead, individual areas of work will be significantly strengthened,” Svyrydenko noted.

The changes were approved by Cabinet Resolution No. 658 of May 27, 2026.

One of the key areas of the reform will be control over the employment of people with disabilities. The State Labor Service will check employers for compliance with the standard of jobs for such employees and monitor compliance with employment legislation.

In addition, the service will assess employers’ costs for arranging accessible workplaces and provide conclusions on compensation and subsidies for “reasonable accommodation” measures.

The State Labor Service will also receive new powers in the field of chemical safety. The agency will monitor compliance with hygiene standards and risk minimization measures when managing chemical products.

A separate block of changes concerns the field of social insurance. The service will inspect the working bodies of the Unemployment Fund and territorial bodies of the Pension Fund regarding the appointment and payment of benefits, compensations and social services.

In addition, the government has significantly expanded the powers of the State Labor Service in the field of subsoil use and mining operations.

Inspectors of the service will monitor the safe conduct of mining operations, subsoil protection, mineral processing technologies, and will also coordinate the liquidation or conservation of mining facilities.

The State Labor Service will also issue mining permits for mines and quarries and supervise the technical operation of deposits.

The Cabinet of Ministers emphasizes that the renewal of the State Labor Service should make the state control system more modern, effective, and focused on protecting workers’ rights and production safety.