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Re- and Upskilling as a Vital Element of War and Post-War Periods

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In 2023, to address unemployment caused by the war and support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, the Construction and Building Materials Industry Workers’ Union (PROFBUD), affiliated with the Federation of Trade Unions (FPU), launched innovation courses to develop new skills and competencies in the construction sector. This initiative, known as the Hub of Informal Vocational Training (PROFBUD hubs), has been supported by various international donors, including unions and the ILO, over the years.

Since March 2026, the functioning of PROFBUD hubs across Ukraine have also been supported under the program “Trade Unions Fighting Inequality and Reconstructing Peace and Democracy in Ukraine”.

This has meant support for 14-day courses in different regions and for the Training Center for informal vocational education in Kyiv, covering various professions such as installer of metal-plastic constructions, welder, tiler, painter, etc. The courses are open to all interested individuals seeking new skills and knowledge. Special attention is given to internally displaced persons (IDPs), war veterans, and other war-impacted categories. 

PROFBUD has created and is deploying a system of PROFBUD Hubs training programs, organized through vocational education and training institutions across Ukraine where PROFBUD has active local trade union chapters and members. This method integrates the current educational infrastructure with trade union outreach, enabling flexible responses to regional labor market needs. 

In March-April, four housepainter and plasterer courses were held in Chernivtsi, Kyiv, Sumy, and Cherkasy, and one installer of metal-plastic constructions course in Kharkiv. A total of 87 individuals attended, including 20 women and 67 men.

The group also comprised internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and war veterans. During their vocational training, the course participants also attended labor rights and OSH legal sessions led by the experienced attorney.