Trade Unions at a Crossroads: How the War Exposed the Crisis of Labor Relations in Ukraine

In this context, a key question reemerges: Can Ukrainian trade unions still fulfill their core function—protecting labor rights—in times of war, reform, and reconstruction? And can they regain their diminishing capacity under increasing internal and external pressure?

Wartime Challenges: Why Workers Need Protection

Ukrainian life is now marked by the challenges of full-scale war and the accompanying socio-economic shocks. These realities have made the issue of labor rights protection increasingly urgent.

Under martial law, workers across various sectors face serious problems: job losses, wage cuts, deteriorating working conditions, a lack of proper social protections, and widespread male conscription. In such circumstances, the need to defend workers’ rights and interests becomes critical. And who is responsible for answering that call? The answer is clear—trade unions.

European Standards vs. Ukrainian Reality: Labor Rights Under Threat

According to internationally recognized norms, the primary function of trade unions is to monitor labor law compliance and resist violations of workers' rights.

The European experience shows that unions must act as guarantors of labor rights—regardless of the conditions, sector, or region. In many countries, unions remain the only institution capable of protecting workers from employer abuse or state inaction. So the question arises: Can Ukrainian unions fulfill this role during war and post-war reconstruction?

Systemic Breakdown: Deregulation, Unemployment, and the Devaluation of Labor

A strong trade union movement cannot exist without a stable and transparent labor relations system. Unfortunately, Ukraine’s system is in crisis.

Following the Russian full-scale invasion, the government pursued deregulation of labor laws, ostensibly to ensure flexibility during the emergency. In practice, these measures narrowed workers’ rights and weakened collective protections.

In its October 2024 enlargement report, the European Commission noted Ukraine’s critical situation in the field of labor rights. Among EU candidate states, Ukraine ranked last—scoring just 1 point in the comparative evaluation. Key problems included weak labor protections, limited labor inspection powers, and legal gaps vis-à-vis the Acquis Communautaire.

As of 2023, labor force participation was 56.7%, with unemployment at 19.2%. The decline in formal employment and the rise of precarious work signal a shrinking formal labor sector. Government programs like Reskilling Ukraine and Own Business have yet to reach a critical mass or effectively combat systemic unemployment.

Trade Unions Under Suspicion: Corruption, Formalism, and Loss of Trust

At the same time, it must be acknowledged that many union structures failed to respond adequately to the current challenges. Formalism, inertia, and detachment from workers' needs have turned unions into symbols of the past rather than agents of modern labor protection.

This distrust has been compounded by scandals involving the leadership of major union federations—particularly around the unlawful sale of union-owned properties, including resorts, sanatoriums, and office spaces that should have served workers' interests.

Criticism also centers on overly personalized leadership, the blocking of young activists from leadership roles, a lack of internal democracy, and the weakening of local-level activity.

If left unaddressed, these issues may strip the trade union movement of its social legitimacy—precisely when workers need protection most.

State Restrictions and Institutional Pressures: Defending the Space to Act

Unions that do attempt to act independently and proactively often face obstacles that hinder their work.

One striking example was the May 2025 seizure of the Trade Union House in Kyiv. Officially, this was due to legal disputes over ownership—but the public saw it differently. The building is a historical symbol of protest and labor organizing in Ukraine.

Previously, unions already faced difficulties in fulfilling their mandate: restrictions on the right to strike, excessive bureaucracy, and financial pressure. The adoption of Law No. 2136-IX in 2022 severely curtailed the role of unions in labor regulation.

This environment forces independent unions to fight not only for workers’ rights—but for their own right to exist as actors in the social dialogue. But that is precisely why trade union renewal is needed—not in spite of these challenges, but because of them.

A New Union Path: Effectiveness, Participation, Reform

The war in Ukraine has exposed the systemic crisis of labor relations—and of the trade union movement itself. Inertia, administrative dependency, and reputational collapse threaten its continued existence.

Yet within this crisis lies an opportunity: renewal.

Progressive, effective unions must become engines of change in the labor sphere—not only responding to challenges, but driving reforms aimed at higher wages, better working conditions, and stronger social protection systems.

Their role in shaping labor and social policy must be systematic, influential, and irreplaceable. Only mobilized, independent, and democratic trade unions can truly defend the interests of workers during the war and Ukraine’s post-war recovery.